Memory: The Working Memory Model
The Working Model of Memory
[endif]--This working model of memory is a model of the short term memory. It is made of 4 main parts. It was created by Baddeley and Hitch in 1974.
1. Central Executive
The Central Executive is where information first enters the working model of memory. It allocates information to the different slave systems.
Baddeley explains the Central Executive: https://youtu.be/aseitqCZKQo
2. Visuospatial Sketch Pad
The Visuospatial Sketch pad could also be referred to as what you use to visualise things or it could be called the Inner eye. You use this when visualising thing. For instance if you visualise yourself in your house you’re using your Visuospatial Sketch pad. It is also what you use for navigation.
Logie (1995) divided the Visuospatial Sketch pad in to 2 sections:
The Visual Cache – Stores visual data.
The Inner Scribe – Records arrangement of objects in a visual field.
3. Episodic Buffer
The Episodic Buffer was added to the model in 2000 by Baddeley due to memories which require both a visual and auditory input. An example of this would be picturing the art on an album cover and thinking of the song at the same time. It is a temporal store for information.
Baddeley explains the Episodic Buffer: https://youtu.be/3a_cF46UiEU
4. Phonological loop
The Phonological loop controls all auditory memory (sound). However it is different from other store because it has to sub-sections. It deals with spoken and written material.
4.1 Articulatory control system
Linked to spoken language. It allows maintenance rehearsal for sounds to keep them in the working model of memory while your need them. The capacity of this is believed to be 2 seconds. This is why Baddeley created the Word length effect. This basically stated that long words were harder to remember because the Articulatory control system found it harder to store them.
4.2 Phonological store
The Phonological store is also referred to as the inner ear. If you have a song in your head the Phonological store is responsible for this. It is responsible for remembering words you hear.
All this information then goes to the Long Term memory for storage and use.
If we combine this with the Multi-model of memory we it looks like this:
Good and Bad points
Because we can combine these two models this shows that they support each other.
If you were to try to repeat your phone number to yourself while answering true/false questions most people will succeed at this. The multi-store model of memory cannot explain this but the working model of memory can, this also supports the working model of memory.
[endif]--On the other hand the Working Model of Memory can be criticised as being reductionist because it’s is too simple to explain the whole of the short term memory. Another negative point could be it only accounts for visual and auditory information. Where does haptic information go?
Key
Blue = Exam notes / useful hints
Red = Perfect Answer
Green = Marks
Practise questions
Outline the main features of the working memory model (4 Marks)
The Central Executive is where information enters this model. It is responsible for giving the correct information to the other 3 main parts (these are slave systems to the central executive because they are controlled by it).
The Visuospatial Sketch pad is where visual memories go. It is also used for navigation.
The Episodic Buffer was added in 2000 by Baddeley because the Working model of memory couldn’t explain memories which contained both aspects that where visual and auditory. So it is responsible for memories which are both visual and auditory.
The Phonological loop is responsible for auditory or written information. It is split into the Articulatory control system and the Phonological store because each are responsible for different parts information which is auditory.
The Working model or memory is made of 4 main sections (1 mark per section)
Outline one limitation of the Working Model of Memory (2 marks)
The Working Model of Memory can be criticised for being Reductionist. This is because the short term memory of a human cannot be simplified to just this.
OR
The Working Model of Memory can be criticised for not accounting for any other types of information except visual and auditory. For instance where does haptic information fit it?
The question is 2 marks so create a point (its reductionist) then justify it (too simple). 1 mark each.
Sue goes to the shops and realises she has forgotten her phone. She cannot remember where she left it, so she tries to visualise her house.
What part of the Working Model of Memory is Sue using while visualising her house? (3 marks)
Sue is using her Visuospatial Sketch pad to visualise her house because it is used for visual memories and navigation.
This is an A02 exam question so link to the question (Sue trying to find her phone) 1 mark for linking it, 1 mark for stating what part of the Working Model of Memory it is and the final mark for stating what that part does.
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