Working Memory Model

Working Memory Model

1. Divisions

   • Phonological loop
     • Phonological Store
       • Holds words heard
       • The inner ear
       • Auditory information enters memory here but can only be stored for around 2 seconds if not passed through the articulatory loop
     • Articulatory loop
       • The inner voice
       • auditory information is rehearsed here subvocally (silently)
     • Limited Capacity
     • Processes auditory information
   • Central executive
     • "manager" of working memory
     • Able to story very limited amounts of information for a very limited time
     • Main role is to control attention and coordinate the slave systems (phonological loop and visual spatial sketchpad)
     • Most important part of WMM
     • Deals with problem solving
     • Directs attention to tasks
   • Visual spatial sketchpad
     • Inner eye
     • The VSS has limited capacity and processes visual information
     • It considers special arrangements of shapes
     • It is with this component that we are able to manipulate images in our head.
     • Two parts:
       • The inner scribe
         • processes spatial and movement information. Transfers information to the central executive
       • The visual Cache
         • Stores information about form and colour
   • The episodic buffer
     • This brings together a range of information into one, single, complex "episode".
     • Limited capacity
     • Acts as an intermediary between the subsystems
     • Dedicated to linking information across domains to form integrated units of visual, spatial, and verbal information with time sequencing.