The Working Memory Model

• What is the main focus of Lesson 4 in the study material?

  The Working Memory Model
• What should students be able to do by the end of the lesson on the Working Memory Model?

  • Understand and describe the WMM and its components
  • Apply the WMM to real-life examples
  • Analyze the difference between the WMM and MSM
  • Evaluate the WMM (discuss strengths and weaknesses)
• Who created the Working Memory Model and in what year?

  Baddeley & Hitch in 1974
• What was the main belief of Baddeley & Hitch regarding memory?

  They believed memory is not just one store but consists of different stores.
• What does the Working Memory Model focus on?

  It focuses on short-term memory (STM) only.
• How does the Working Memory Model view long-term memory?

  It views LTM as a more passive store that holds previously learned material for use by STM.
• What are the components of the Working Memory Model?

  • Central Executive
  • Phonological Loop
  • Visuo-spatial Sketchpad
  • Episodic Buffer
• What metaphor does Baddeley use to describe the Central Executive?

  He uses the metaphor of a company boss.
• What is the role of the Central Executive in the Working Memory Model?

  It makes decisions about which issues deserve attention and which should be ignored.
• What is the capacity of the Central Executive?

  It has limited capacity.
• What does "modality free" mean in the context of the Central Executive?

  It means that the Central Executive can process information from different sensory modalities.
• What type of tasks does the Central Executive handle?


  It is used for reasoning tasks, questions, quizzes, and puzzles.
• What is the first slave system in the Working Memory Model?

  The Phonological Loop
• What type of information does the Phonological Loop deal with?

  It deals with auditory information and preserves word order.
• What are the two subdivisions of the Phonological Loop according to Baddeley?

  Phonological store and articulatory process
• What does the articulatory process in the Phonological Loop do?

  It silently repeats words like an inner voice.
• What is the second slave system in the Working Memory Model?

  The Visuo-spatial Sketchpad
• What type of information is stored in the Visuo-spatial Sketchpad?

  Visual and/or spatial information.
• What is the capacity of the Visuo-spatial Sketchpad?

  It has a limited capacity of 3-4 objects.
• What are the two subdivisions of the Visuo-spatial Sketchpad suggested by Logie?


  Visuo-cache and inner scribe
• What does the inner scribe in the Visuo-spatial Sketchpad do?

  It stores spatial relations and physical relationships with items.
• What is the third slave system added by Baddeley in 2000?

  The Episodic Buffer
• What is the role of the Episodic Buffer?


  It integrates information from all other areas.
• What is the capacity of the Episodic Buffer?

  It has a limited capacity of 4 chunks.
• What does "multi-dimensional store" mean in the context of the Episodic Buffer?

  It means that the Episodic Buffer can integrate different types of information.
• What is the Dual-Task Technique in the context of the Working Memory Model?

  • It measures performance as participants perform two tasks simultaneously.
  • It provides evidence for different stores and limited capacity for STM.
• What happens to task performance when both tasks use the same store?

  Task performance is poorer than when they are completed separately.
• Which slave system is being used when repeating the word "THE" while reading a passage?

  The Phonological Loop.
• What is the effect on task performance when different stores are used for two tasks?

  Performance should be unaffected when performing them simultaneously.
• What is the significance of the case study of patient KF?

  It suggests that short-term memory has different parts dedicated to processing different types of information.
• What does the word-length effect explain in relation to the Phonological Loop?

  It explains why people cope better with short words than long words in working memory.
• How long can the Phonological Loop hold information?

  It can hold information that you can say in 1.5 - 2 seconds.
• What cultural aspect is related to the word-length effect?

  Some cultures have shorter words, which may affect memory abilities.
• What are the strengths of the Working Memory Model?

  • Explains parallel processing.
  • Accounts for dual-task performance.
  • Supported by brain scanning evidence.
  • Acknowledges interaction of cognitive processes.
• What are the limitations of the Working Memory Model?

  • Considered too simplistic and vague.
  • Unclear role of the Central Executive.
  • Needs more specification than just 'attention'.
• What should be included in a WMM essay?

  • Outline of Central Executive, Phonological Loop, Visuo-spatial Sketchpad, and Episodic Buffer.
  • Discussion of Dual-task technique.
  • Evaluation of Patient KF and word length effect.
  • Strengths and weaknesses of the WMM.
• What type of tasks does the Central Executive handle?

  Reasoning tasks, questions, quizzes, and puzzles.
• What is the role of the Phonological Loop?

  It deals with auditory information and preserves word order.
• What is the function of the Visuo-spatial Sketchpad?


  It stores visual and spatial information.
• What is the function of the Episodic Buffer?

  It integrates information from all other areas.