The WMM

1. Central executive

2. Visuospatial sketch-pad

3. Inner scribe

4. Inner cache

5. Phonological loop

6. Articulatory control system

7. Phonological store

8. Episodic buffer

9. LTM

Label the working memory model

The WMM is an explanation of how short-term memory is organised and how it functions.

The model is concerned with which part of the mind is active when it is temporarily storing/coding information.

What is the working memory model?

Sometimes referred to as the ‘boss’ of the WMM. The CE has very limited processing capacity.

It controls attention and directs information to the two slave systems: the phonological loop and the visuospatial sketchpad.

What is the central executive?

Deals with auditory information and has two subsections:

• Articulatory control system (inner voice): allows for vocal repetition - maintenance rehearsal (2 seconds)

• Phonological store (inner ear): stores acoustic items for a short period of time

What is the phonological loop?

1. articulatory control system (inner voice)

2. phonological store (inner ear)

what are the 2 subsections of the phonological loop?

allows for vocal repetition - maintenance rehearsal (2 seconds)

what does the articulatory control system (inner voice) do?

stores acoustic items for a short period of time

what does the phonological store (inner ear) do?

Deals with visual and spatial tasks (e.g. planning your journey to school). Stores 3-4 items of information. It also has two sub-sections:

• Inner scribe: deals with the spatial relationship between objects

• Visual cache: stores visual information e.g. shape/colour

What is the visuospatial sketchpad?

1. Inner scribe

2. Visual cache

what are the 2 subsections of the visuo-spatial sketchpad?

stores visual information e.g. shape/colour 

what does the visual cache do?

deals with the spatial relationship between objects

what does the inner scribe do?

The episodic buffer binds information from all the other components and sends information to the LTM.

What is the episodic buffer?

1. Central executive

2. Visuospatial sketchpad

3. Phonological loop

4. Episodic buffer

What are the 4 main parts of the WMM?