WMM

What is the working memory model?

A model by Baddeley and Hitch that explains short term memory as an active processor with multiple components.

What is the role of the central executive?

It allocates attention, monitors incoming information and directs tasks to slave systems.

What is the phonological loop?

A slave system that processes auditory information.

What are the components of the phonological loop?

The phonological store (inner ear) and the articulatory process (inner voice).

What does the phonological store do?

Stores the sounds you hear.

What does the articulatory process do?

Allows maintenance rehearsal by repeating information in a two second loop.

What is the visuo spatial sketchpad?

A slave system that processes visual and spatial information.

What are the components of the visuo spatial sketchpad?

The visual cache and the inner scribe.

What does the visual cache store?

Visual data such as shapes and colours.

What does the inner scribe do?

Records spatial relationships and the arrangement of objects.

What is the episodic buffer?

A temporary store that integrates information from all components and links working memory to long term memory.

What does the episodic buffer maintain?

A sense of time sequencing between events.

What case study supports the WMM?

Shallice and Warrington's study of KF.

What did KF's memory impairments show?

He had poor verbal STM but intact visual STM, showing separate stores for visual and acoustic information.

What is a limitation of case study evidence?

Each case is unique, so findings may not generalise to typical memory functioning.

What is the dual task technique?

A method showing how performing two tasks at once reveals separate components of working memory.

What did Baddeley's dual task studies find?

People struggle doing two visual tasks or two verbal tasks, but can do one visual and one verbal task simultaneously.

What does the dual task technique support?

The existence of separate slave systems: the phonological loop and visuo spatial sketchpad.

Why is the central executive criticised?

It is poorly defined and difficult to test scientifically.

Why is the central executive considered vague?

Its limits and processes are not clearly explained, and some suggest it may have multiple components.

What is the word length effect?

People remember fewer long words than short words due to the limited capacity of the articulatory process.

How do articulatory suppression tasks affect the word length effect?

Repeating sounds like 'la la la' removes the word length effect because the phonological loop is blocked.

What does the removal of the word length effect show?

Memory is redirected to the visuo spatial sketchpad, supporting separate stores in the WMM.