Working Memory Model

Working Memory Model

1. Central Executive

   • Key component of working memory. Directs attention to paticular tasks, determining how 'resources' are allocated to tasks. Limited capacity Has 3 slave systems
   • Bunge et al. 2000
     • used fMRI to see which parts of the brain were most active when completing two tasks. The same brain areas were active in either dual- or single-task conditions but there was significantly more activation in the dual task condition. This suggests increased attentional demands were reflected in brain activity.

2. Phonological Loop

   • 1st Slave system deals with auditory information and preserves the order of information. Baddeley subdivided it into the phonological store and articulatory process Phonological store: words you hear like an inner ear. Articulatory Process: used for words which are heard or seen - these words are silently repeated (looped) like an inner voice - a form of maintenance rehearsal.
   • Baddeley 1986
     • Divided it into the phonological store and articulatory process.
   • Baddeley et al. 1975a
     • Word Length Effects is supported by the phonological loop. But word length effect disappears if person is given an articulatory suppression task. This repetitive task ties up the articulatory process and prevents you rehearsaing the shorter words more than the longer ones. This is evidence for the articulatory process.

3. Visuo-Spatial Sketchpad

   • Used when completing a spatial task e.g. getting from one room to another, or counting the number of windows in your house. Visual and/or spatial information is stored here. Visual information is what things look like. Spatial information is the relationship between things.
   • Logie 1995
   • Baddeley 1975b
     • Paticpants given a visual tracking task. An one of another 2 tasks: task 1 was to describe all the angles on a letter F, task 2 was to perform a verbal task. Task 1 was more difficult: presumably because the second task involved two different components.  

4. Episodic Buffer

   • Added by Baddeley 2000 as the model needed a general store. Holds information that relates both visual and acoustic information. Limited capacity. Integrates info from the central executive, phonological loop, visuo-spatial sketchpad and long term memory.
   • Baddeley et al. 1987
     • .When shown words and then asked for immediate recall, participants performance was much better for sentences, than for unrelated words. Supports idea for an immediate memory store for items that are neither visual or phonological and draw on LTM.