Working Memory Model - Landry and Bartling (2011)

Landry and Bartling

The working memory model is based upon the findings of the dual-task study and suggests that there are four separate components to our working memory (STM). The most important component is the central executive; it is involved in problem solving/decision-making.

Landry and Bartling-Aim

To investigate if articulatory suppression - the process of inhibiting memory performance by speaking while being presented with an item to remember - would influence recall of a written list of phonologically dissimilar letters in serial recall

Landry and Bartling-Methodology/Procedure

-34 psych undergrads

-experimental group - saw a list of letters they had to recall while saying the numbers 1 and 2 (articulatory suppression task) from time of presentation of list until time they filled out the answer sheet

-control group - saw a list of letters but did not engage in articulatory suppression talk while filling out the answer sheet

The list:

-10 lists - each having a series of 7 dissimilar sounding letters

-Each list shown for 5 seconds, then participants waited for 5 seconds, and then wrote the correct order of letter on answer sheet

Landry and Bartling-Results/Findings/Conclusions

-Scores from the experimental group were much lower (45% accurate recall) than scores from the control group (76% accurate recall)

-In line with WMM, articulatory suppression is preventing rehearsal in the phonological loop because of the overload.

-This resulted in difficulty in memorizing the letter strings for participants in the experimental conditions whereas the participants in the control condition did not experience such overload.

Landry and Bartling-Evaluation of WMM/Conclusion

Unlike its predecessor, the Multi-Store Memory Model, the WMM provides an explanation for parallel processing - meaning that it explains as to why we can walk and talk at the same time. Since the model was produced in a laboratory setting, it was very well controlled so confounding variables are limited in the process of replication. Although the WMM is more developed and detailed than the MSM model, it still does not properly explain what the central executive is or its role in the model. Also, many studies supporting the model have been done in laboratory settings which results in low ecological validity which may lead to a bias in the findings. The WMM is a great step forward in explaining the way our short term memory functions, but there is still work to be done.