The working memory model -A-Level Psychology
The working memory model:
-explains how short term memory is organised and functions
-is concerned with part of the brain that is active when we are temporarily storing and manipulating information
Central executive:
-monitors incoming data
-coordinates the activities of the 3 slave subsystems in memory.
-directs attention to a specific slave system.
-has a very limited processing capacity so is unable to store data.
The phonological loop :
-deals with auditory information
– preserves the order in which information arrives.
-It has two subdivisions:the phonological store which stores words you hear and the articulatory process which allows maintenance rehearsal (inner voice).
The Visuo-spatial sketchpad:
-stores visual and spatial information
-has a limited capacity.
– has two subdivisions: the visual cache which stores visual data and the inner scribe which records the arrangements of objects in the visual field
The episodic buffer:
-a temporary store for information that integrates visual,spatial and verbal information processed by the other stores into a single memory and maintains a sense of time sequencing.It also links working memory to LTM and wider cognitive processes such as perception.
-also has a limited capacity
Evaluation:
Clinical evidence- Shallice and Warrington (1970) carried out a case study on patient KF who had brain damage.The patient had poor STM ability and struggled to process auditory material presented verbally but could process visual information presented visually.This suggests that his phonological loop had been damaged leaving the other areas of memory intact thus supporting the existence of a separate visual and acoustic store which are present in the WMM called the phonological loop and the visuo-spatail sketchpad
Constricted to only STM-There is no explanation of LTM so therefore it is not a complete accurate model of memory,so has limited application into the everyday processes of human memory .This is a limitation because it considers how the WMM is unable to convey the full process of memory.
The Working Memory Model is a cognitive theory that explains how our short-term memory works. It was proposed by Baddeley and Hitch in 1974 and has been refined over the years.
The Working Memory Model has three main components: the phonological loop, the visuospatial sketchpad, and the central executive.
The phonological loop is responsible for the storage and manipulation of auditory information, such as sounds and words.
The visuospatial sketchpad is responsible for the storage and manipulation of visual and spatial information, such as images and locations.
The central executive is responsible for coordinating the activities of the phonological loop and the visuospatial sketchpad, as well as for controlling attention and making decisions.
The episodic buffer is a component that was added to the Working Memory Model later on. It is responsible for integrating information from the phonological loop, visuospatial sketchpad, and long-term memory to create a complete representation of an event or experience.
The Working Memory Model proposes that short-term memory is made up of several different components that work together, whereas the Multi-Store Model proposes that short-term memory and long-term memory are separate stores.
The Working Memory Model can be applied in many areas of everyday life, such as learning, problem-solving, decision-making, and communication. Understanding the limitations and functions of working memory can help students develop effective study strategies and improve their performance in exams.
Some limitations of the Working Memory Model include the lack of clarity around the exact role of the central executive and the episodic buffer, as well as the difficulty in measuring and manipulating working memory in experiments.
Research on the Working Memory Model has evolved over time to include new technologies and methodologies, such as brain imaging and computational modeling. This has led to a better understanding of the neural mechanisms and cognitive processes underlying working memory.
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