working memory model

why was it developed

• problems with the MSM

  • more than one type of STM and found it must do more than just store info

    • baddeley and hitch 1974

what are the 4 main components of the WMM

explain the CE

• focuses attention on the most important tasks

• coordinates the 3 other components

• limited capacity

• can’t store info

explain the PL

• slave system

• coordinates auditory info

  • acoustic coding

• preserves order that acoustic info is processed

• 2 parts

  • phonological store - stores spoken word (the inner ear)

  • articulatory process - stores written words (inner voice)

    • words are repeated on a loop as a part of maintenance rehearsal

• limited capacity

explain the VSS

• slave system responsible for visual/spatial information

• info temporarily stored here

• limited capacity

• 2 divisions

  • visual cache - visual data like colour or shape

  • inner scribe - arrangement of objects

explain the EB

• receive info from 3 other components and integrate the info to create “episodes”

  • time sequenced

• info temporarily stored here

• important stage in long term episodic memory

• limited capacity

strengths of the WMM

• KF supports it

  • STM impaired

  • struggled to process verbal/auditory info but his recall of visual info was unaffected