Working memory model

Working memory model

A representation of STM.

Suggests that STM is a dynamic processor of different types of information using subcomponents co-ordinated by a central decision making system

Central executive

Co-ordinates the activities in the 3 subsystems in memory.

Allocates processing resources to those activities

Episodic buffer

Combines material from other subsystems into a single memory rather than separate strands.

Provides a bridge between working memory and LTM

Visuo-spatial sketchpad

Processes visual and spatial information

Subdivided into visual cache and inner scribe

Phonological loop

Processes sound inforation

Includes written and spoken material.

Divided into phonological store and articulatory process

Articulatory process

Subvocal repetition and repetition in your head.

Inner voice.

Capacity around 2 seconds worth of words

Phonological store

Inner ear

Stores the words you’ve just heard

Visual cache

Stores visual data, its form and colour. What things are

Inner scribe

Records the arrangement of objects in the visual field. Where things are

CE easily overwhelmed

Can’t process 2 pieces of information that share a slave system (acoustic or visual).

Can deal with visual and acoustic information at the same time as these involve separate slave systems

Shallice and Warrington case study support

K.F STM affected

Visual STM not affected but verbal STM affected

VSS intact but PL damaged

Supports the idea that the STM can be further subdivided

Case study so you can’t generalise results, not representative

Contradiction to Shallice and Warrington

Unclear wether KF had other cognitive issues which might have affected his performance on memory tasks

Injury was caused by a motorcycle accident.

The trauma may have affected his cognitive performance quite apart from any brain injury.

This challenges evidence that comes from clinical studies of people with brain injuries that may have affected many different systems

D’Esposito clinical evidence

Gave people an MRI to examine their brain.

When they were testing the central executive they found that the prefrontal cortex was active when the CE is active.

Baddeley support

Supports the WMM.

Asked subjects to complete tasks that involved the slave systems. When asked to do 2 acoustic tasks, subjects struggled because the phonological loop is overloaded.

The same thing happens if they are asked to do 2 visual tasks.

If they are asked to do a visual and an acoustic task at the same time they can do it because resources are divided.

Evolutionary psychology support

Supports existence of phonological store.

With out ancestors there was an ability to remember short term vocalisations e.g. the inner voice.

Helps with communication and eventually developed to full blown language