Memory – Working Memory Model
Memory – Working Memory Model
Courses Info
THE WORKING MEMORY MODEL
- Baddeley suggested that the multi-store model was too simplistic and therefore developed the Working Memory Model
- Version of STM that sees this store as an active processor
Central Executive (CE)
- Most important component of the model
- Component that oversees and co-ordinates the other components of the Working Memory Model
Episodic Buffer (EB)
- Component that serves as a temporary store of integrates information from the Central Executive, Phonological Loop, Visuo-spatial Sketchpad, Long-term memory
- Filters what information needs to be remembered / kept, and what doesn’t
- Retrieves information from LTM
- Limited capacity
Phonological Loop (PL)
- Component that deals with auditory information
- Primary acoustic – stores words recently heard
- Articulatory process – keeps information through vocal repetition
- Limited capacity
- Holds information for 1-2 seconds
Visuo-spatial Sketchpad (VSS)
- Component that deals with visual information and the physical relationship of items
- Inner scribe – properties of VSS
- Visual cache – form / colour
Research
- Shallice & Warrington – case study reported that a brain damaged patient could recall verbal but not visual information immediately after its presentation – evidence to support reliability
- Baddeley & Hitch – greater understanding (WMM) of memory rather than MSM
Evaluation
| Strengths | Weaknesses |
| Reliable – evidence to support – Shallice & Warrington | Unclear what the Central Executive actually does – reductionist as it is vague |
| More developed than the MSM – WMM provides an explanation for parallel processing – processes involved in a cognitive task occur at once | Lab experiments – lacks mundane realism – low ecological validity |
| Evidence based on lab experiments – replicable – controlled conditions | Case studies cannot be generalised – theory may not be applicable to everyone |
Exam questions
- Outline and evaluate the Working Memory Model (16 marks)
- Explain the Working Memory Model and the functions of each component (12 marks)