The working memory model

• The WMM is an improved version of the STM store. We know that a limitation for MSM is that it was to simplistic Baddeley & Hitch (1974) • Focused on STM ONLY and believed it was not a unitary store than exists to pass information on to the LTM. • Baddeley thought that rather than a passive store just holding onto information and passing it on to the LTM, we use the STM to process, filter and combine multi types of information (active processer).
• Who uses the metaphor of a company boss to describe cognitive processes?

  Baddeley
• What does the company boss metaphor represent in Baddeley's model?


  It represents the central executive (CE) that makes decisions about attention and job allocation.
• What is the role of the central executive (CE) in Baddeley's model?


  It controls and filters information before passing it to sub-systems.
• How does the central executive (CE) manage sensory information?


  It pays attention to information received from our senses.
• What are the components of Baddeley's model of working memory?


  • Central Executive (CE)
  • Visuo-spatial sketch-pad
  • Phonological loop
  • Episodic buffer
• What is the capacity of the central executive (CE) in Baddeley's model?


  It has limited capacity and can hold onto only one type of information at a time.
• How does the central executive (CE) handle different types of information?


  It can switch equally between each type of information.
• What types of information does the central executive (CE) control in Baddeley's model?


  It is in control of the phonological loop (PL) and the visuo-spatial sketch-pad (VSS).
• Phonological Loop

  1st Sub-System It processes auditory information like sounds and words. Baddeley (1986) further subdivided it into •Phonological store The inner ear (holds words that have been heard for 1-2 secs)Articulatory process The inner voice (holds words

  you hear/see and silently repeats (in a loop) like

  an inner voice. This is a kind of maintenance

  rehearsal.

  The PL has limited capacity, it is believed to be two seconds of what you can

  say
• What is the second sub-system of working memory that processes visual and spatial information?

  Visuo-spatial sketchpad
• What are the two components of the visuo-spatial sketchpad as divided by Logie in 1995?


  The visual cache and the inner scribe
• What does the visual cache store?


  Visual data, like what things look like and color
• What does the inner scribe do in the visuo-spatial sketchpad?


  Records the arrangements of objects in the visual field
• What does the visuo-spatial sketchpad refer to in terms of spatial information?


  How objects are located/situated in space, including distance, position, and direction
• What is the believed limited capacity of the visuo-spatial sketchpad?


  About 3-4 items
• In what situations might we use our visuo-spatial sketchpad in real life?


  • Navigating through a new environment
  • Visualizing objects in space
  • Planning movements in sports
  • Remembering the layout of a room
• If the tasks require different stores for example PL (auditory) information and VSS (visual) ❑ Performance would be unaffected when performing them simultaneously ❑ If one store is utilised for both tasks, then task performance is poorer than when they are completed separately, due to the store’s limited capacity
• 3 rd Sub-System Episodic buffer

  Baddeley (2000) updated the model after a number of studies found

  results the model couldn't explain.

  • How LTM may be brought into our working memory

  • How sounds and visual information is integrated

  So the EB is where visual, verbal and spatial information is integrated

  to the LTM.

  • Recording events (episodes) that are happening.

  • Has a limited capacity about 4 chunks (Baddeley, 2012)

  • Link working memory to LTM and wider cognitive processes that

  we have e.g perception