The Working Model of Memory

• The working model of memory challenges the concept of a single unitary store of short term memories.
• The working model of memory is based on the findings of dual task studies, studies that investigate how far people are able to complete two tasks at the same time.
• Fill in the blank:

  A) Central Executive

  B) Phonological loop

  C) Episodic Buffer

  D) Visuo-spatial sketchpad

  E) Long-term storage memory

  
• What is the central executive in the working model of memory?

  This is the component with a supervisory function and controls the slave systems - it’s responsible for allocating resources to the slave systems appropriately and attention for different tasks.
• What is the capacity of the central executive in the working model of memory?

  Limited
• what coding does the central executive use in the working model of memory?

  modality free
• What is the purpose of the phonological loop in the working model of memory?


  To process auditory information: can be in a written of spoken form. Can be further subdivided into two sections:

  • Phonological store (inner ear - temporarily retains and stores acoustic information that we hear).
  • Articulatory control (inner voice - allows maintenance rehearsal where you rehearse words that you are currently processing and keeps them in the working model until they are no longer needed.
• What is the capacity of the phonological loop in the working model of memory?

  Limited
• What coding is used in the phonological loop?

  Acoustic
• What is the main purpose of the visuo-spatial sketchpad?

  It’s a temporary storage system for both visual and spatial information. It is further divided into two sections:

  • Visual cache (temporarily stores visual information).

  Inner scribe (allows you to manipulate images in your head).
• What is the capacity of the visuo-spatial sketchpad?

  3-4 items
• What coding does the visuo-spatial sketchpad use?

  Visual
• What is the purpose of the episodic buffer?

  It Integrates and synthesises information that has been processed from the other slave systems and temporarily stores it. It retains info in the order it was received, also linking to LTM and wider cognitive processes e.g. perception.
• What is the capacity of the episodic buffer?

  approximately 4 chunks of information
• How does the episodic buffer code?

  Modality free