Memory

~ Working memory model ~

For short term memory. 

Central executive: attentional process that monitors incoming data/information and allocates it into the slave systems. – limiting processing capacity.

Phonological loop: one of the slave systems. Preserves the information in the order of which arrives in. 

Sub-divided stores 

1.    Phonological store – stores the words you hear. 

2.    Articulatory process – allows maintenance rehearsal (repeating words in a loop) 

Visuo-spatial sketchpad: second slave system. Stores visual and spatial information. Has limited capacity according to Baddeley 2003 – 3-4 objects 

Logie 1995 – subdivided VSS:

Visual cache – stores visual data 

Inner scribe – records the arrangement of objects in visual field. 

Episodic buffer: third slave system. Added by Baddeley 2000. Temporary store for information, intergrating the visual, spatial and verbal information processed by other stores and maintaining a sentence of time sequencing – can be seen as a component of central executive // has a limiting capacity of 4 chunks Baddeley 2012 // linked working memory to LTM wider cognitive processes – perception. 

Evaluation: 

ü Studies of dual-task performance supports the separation existing visuo-spatial sketchpad. Baddeley et al 1975 more difficulty doing two visual tasks at the same compared to doing one visual and verbal task. 

×     Lack of clarity over the central executive – is unsatisfactory and doesn’t really explain anything. // needs to be more clear than it simply pays attention – some argued that the WMM hasn’t been fully explained. 

ü Brain scanning studies support the WMM // Braver et al 1997 gave their participant tasks that involved the central executive during brain scan. Researchers found greater activity in an area greater activity left prefrontal cortex the activity of the area increased as the tasks got harder. Demands of the CE increase has to work harder to fulfil its function.