2.2 Working Memory Model: AQA Psychology A level Revision

Working Memory Model

The Working Memory Model(WMM) was proposed by Baddeley and Hitch (1974). It is a response to the over-simplification of short-term memory in the multi-store model. It is a model of short-term memory.

Components of the WMM.

- Central executive;

- Phonological loop;

- Visuospatial sketchpad/scratchpad;

- Episodic buffer.

Central executive component

It controls the WMM rather like the ‘boss’ in a business. The components can only communicate with each other via the CE: they cannot ‘talk’ to each other and can process information from any of the 5 senses (auditory, visual, etc.)

Phonological loop

The phonological loop (PL) holds information through speech/sound. The PL has two parts: the phonological store/inner ear, which deals with speech perception, and the articulatory control process/ inner voice, which processes speech production and rehearses verbal information.

Visuospatial sketchpad/scratchpad

The visuospatial sketchpad (VSS) is concerned with visual and spatial information, which it organises into separate components and is also known as the inner eye.

There are two parts to the VSS: the inner scribe, which deals with spatial information, and the visual cache, which stores information about form, shape and colour.

Episodic buffer

The episodic buffer (EB) was added to the WMM in 2000 and represents a temporary storage device that integrates information from the VSS and PL. The EB ensures that all the information from the slave systems links together and forms a cohesive whole, which makes sense.

Strengths and limitations of the WMM

The strengths of WMM are reflected in the fact that it extends to work with MSM and explains the complexity of STM with the tasks it can perform. Baddeley and Hitch (1976) and Robbins et al. (1996): two tasks are possible at the same time if they use different slave systems, e.g. the PL and the VSS: attempting two tasks using one slave system overloads that system.

The limitations of WMM are reflected in the fact that it is unclear about the connection between STM and LTM. It is difficult to measure CE, which means that not much is known about it, but more research can help.