Working Memory

Working Memory

1. Baddeley (2012) Latest model of the working memory has 4 components

   • 1) central executive: attentional system, 2) phonological loop , 3) Visual Spatial Sketchpad and 4) Episodic Buffer
     • Two Key Assumptions: 1) If two tasks use the same component, they cannot be performed successfully together. 2) If two task use different components, it should be possible to perform them together as well as separately

2. Phonological loop: Consists of two components

   • A passive phonological store directly concerned with speech perception and An articulatory process linked to speech production giving access to phonological store
   • Phonological Similarity effect: recall ability is reduced when words are phonologically similar. Larsen et al (2000) found out the ability to call words in order was 25% with phonologically similar list
     • Acheson et all (2010) this effect does not only involve the phonological loop but semantic processes play a part
     • Baddley (2012) Word length effect= better recall for shorter than longer words

3. Visuo Spatial Sketchpad: Used for temporary storage and manipulation of visual patterns and spatial movement.

   • Right hemisphere is more activity on spatial (location) as opposed to visual (form) working memory tasks (Smith and Jonides 1997)
   • Ventral prefrontal cortex is more active for visual tasks and dorsal prefrontal cortex for spatial working memory tasks

4. Episodic Buffer: Stores and integrates briefly information from phonological loop, visuo-spatial sketch pad and long-term memory as ‘scenes’ or episodes.

5. Central Executive: Mediates cognitively demanding activities and holds and manipulates information

   • Associated with activity in dorso-lateral prefrontal cortex
     • Mikyake et al (2000): Identified 3 related executive processes known as 1) Inhibition function, used in stroop task, 2) shifting function and 3) Updating Function
   • Baddley (1996): Identified 4 executive processes, 1) focusing attention or concentration, 2) dividing qttention between two stimulus streams, 3) switching attention and 4)interacting with LTM