Working memory model

• What is the WMM?


  Model of STM that is concerned with the mental space that is active when needed
• Diagram of WMM

  
• Central executive


  Supervisory role that monitors incoming data,directs attention and allocates subsystems to tasks -has limited storage capacity
• Phonological loop (audible)


  Deals with auditory information which is subdivided into = phonological store-stores words heard , articulatory store-allows maintenance rehearsal by repeating sounds to keep them in WM while they are needed
• Visio-spatial sketchpad (VSS)


  Stores visual and spatial information when required, subdivided into visual cache-stores visual data and inner scribe-records arrangement of objects in a visual field
• Episodic buffer (EB)


  Temporary store for information . Integrates visual, spatial and verbal information from others stores. Maintains sense of time sequencing . Links to LTM
• Lack of clarity over the central executive, AO3


  Con,lack of validity on CE since it is the most important but least understood component of WM, there must be more to the CE than it being made up of separate components which makes it an unsatisfactory component
• Clinical evidence, AO3


  Pro, a case study sown that a patient with brain damage who had a damaged PL which meant his STM for auditory information was poor but he could process visual information normally with an intact VSS , support the WMM view that there are separate visual and acoustic memory stores
• Importance of rehearsal,AO3


  Pro, does not emphasise importance of rehearsal in contrast to MSM