WMM

Who proposed the WMM?

Baddeley and Hitch (1974)

How does the WMM model view STM/ memory in general

Views STM as an active, multi-component system, doesn't view memory as unitary

Components of the WMM

central executive, phonological loop, episodic buffer, visuo-spatial sketchpad

Central Executive

main controller in working memory which directs attention and allocates tasks to sub systems known as 'slave systems'. Very limited capacity, modality free, doesn't store info

what is the phonological loop split into?

deals with verbal and auditory info and is split into the phonological store and the articulatory control process

Phonological store

Stores the words you hear (verbalises them- inner ear)

Articulatory control process

allows maintenance rehearsal- mentally rehearses words- limited capacity of about 2s worth of what can be said

what is the visuo-spatial sketchpad?

processes visual and spatial information, split into visual cache- storing images- and inner scribe- records arrangement of objects in the visual field. Capacity limited to 3-4 objects

episodic buffer

a temporary store that integrates information from the other components and maintains a sense of time, so that events occur in a continuing sequence. Added in 2000

Dual task experimental support

one strength of the WMM is that it is supported by dual-task studies. Baddeley and Hitch found that participants could successfully carry out a visual and verbal task at the same time, but when asked to do two tasks that used the same system (e.g. 2 verbal tasks) performance got worse. This suggests that the brain has separate systems for handling different types of info (verbal and visual) and that each has a limited capacity. these findings support the WMM's validity by showing that working memory is not made up of a single store but multiple components that can work independently

clinical supporting evidence- KF

one strength is Shallice and Warrington's case study of patient KF (1970). he has poor STM ability for auditory information, but could process visual information normally. e.g. he recalled spoken digits and words worse than when he read them. this suggests that different types of information are processed by separate systems as one can be damaged and the other intact. these dindings support the WMM's idea of distinct components such as the phonological loop for verbal infor and the VSS for visual and spatial tasks. it also challenges the MSM wich views STM as a single unified store.

central executive is a vague concept

one limitation is the lack of clarity over the central executive. it is described by Baddeley as the 'most important' part of the system yet how it works or its capacity is unknown. Hunt (1980) criticised it for being untestable, suggesting it may not be a single unit, but made of different subcomponents wich are responsible for different types of mental tasks. this weakeness limits the WMM as an explanation of STM due to the most important part being under-researched, challenging the integrity of the WMM

Who proposed the WMM?

Baddeley and Hitch (1974)

How does the WMM model view STM/ memory in general

Views STM as an active, multi-component system, doesn't view memory as unitary

Components of the WMM

central executive, phonological loop, episodic buffer, visuo-spatial sketchpad

Central Executive

main controller in working memory which directs attention and allocates tasks to sub systems known as 'slave systems'. Very limited capacity, modality free, doesn't store info

what is the phonological loop split into?

deals with verbal and auditory info and is split into the phonological store and the articulatory control process

Phonological store

Stores the words you hear (verbalises them- inner ear)

Articulatory control process

allows maintenance rehearsal- mentally rehearses words- limited capacity of about 2s worth of what can be said

what is the visuo-spatial sketchpad?

processes visual and spatial information, split into visual cache- storing images- and inner scribe- records arrangement of objects in the visual field. Capacity limited to 3-4 objects

episodic buffer

a temporary store that integrates information from the other components and maintains a sense of time, so that events occur in a continuing sequence. Added in 2000

Dual task experimental support

one strength of the WMM is that it is supported by dual-task studies. Baddeley and Hitch found that participants could successfully carry out a visual and verbal task at the same time, but when asked to do two tasks that used the same system (e.g. 2 verbal tasks) performance got worse. This suggests that the brain has separate systems for handling different types of info (verbal and visual) and that each has a limited capacity. these findings support the WMM's validity by showing that working memory is not made up of a single store but multiple components that can work independently

clinical supporting evidence- KF

one strength is Shallice and Warrington's case study of patient KF (1970). he has poor STM ability for auditory information, but could process visual information normally. e.g. he recalled spoken digits and words worse than when he read them. this suggests that different types of information are processed by separate systems as one can be damaged and the other intact. these dindings support the WMM's idea of distinct components such as the phonological loop for verbal infor and the VSS for visual and spatial tasks. it also challenges the MSM wich views STM as a single unified store.

central executive is a vague concept

one limitation is the lack of clarity over the central executive. it is described by Baddeley as the 'most important' part of the system yet how it works or its capacity is unknown. Hunt (1980) criticised it for being untestable, suggesting it may not be a single unit, but made of different subcomponents wich are responsible for different types of mental tasks. this weakeness limits the WMM as an explanation of STM due to the most important part being under-researched, challenging the integrity of the WMM