Describe and Evaluate The Working Memory Model
The Working Memory Model (WMM) is a theory by Baddeley and Hitch in 1974. The theory replaces the idea that there is a single Short Term Memory (STM) from Atkinson and Shiffrin (1968), it suggests that the STM is a flexible multi-component system. The WMM suggests that the STM is controlled by the Central Executive (CE) which controls attention, planning and synthesising information. The Central Executive is a flexible system which means it can process audio, visual and sound information, it also has a limited capacity.
Baddeley and Hitch furthermore suggested the Central Executive controls the slave systems, the Phonological Loop included. The Phonological Loop consists of two parts, the Phonological Store which is also known as the ‘inner ear’, this is because it stores acoustic information which can only be held for a brief period (limited capacity). The second part is the Articulatory Control Process which is known as the ‘inner voice’, this is because it allows sub-vocal repetition which helps us to recollect information. The Visuo-Spatial Scratchpad is a part of the slave system, it stores visual and sound information and is thought of as the ‘inner eye’. This Visuo-Spatial Sketchpad sets up and manipulates mental images and also has a limited capacity. The last slave system is the Episodic Buffer which was recently added in the year 2000, it is responsible for integrating information from other stores and producing new chunks of information, this also has a limited capacity. All the slave systems can work individually; this means it is possible to carry out different tasks that use different stores at the same time. However, all the slave systems have a limited capacity.
The Working Memory Model is supported by PAULESCU et al. 1993 who aimed to identify what areas of the brain are active during different tasks. PAULESCU et al. 1993 used two groups of participants; group 1 completed a verbal task which used the phonological loop. Group 2 completed a
Baddeley and Hitch furthermore suggested the Central Executive controls the slave systems, the Phonological Loop included. The Phonological Loop consists of two parts, the Phonological Store which is also known as the ‘inner ear’, this is because it stores acoustic information which can only be held for a brief period (limited capacity). The second part is the Articulatory Control Process which is known as the ‘inner voice’, this is because it allows sub-vocal repetition which helps us to recollect information. The Visuo-Spatial Scratchpad is a part of the slave system, it stores visual and sound information and is thought of as the ‘inner eye’. This Visuo-Spatial Sketchpad sets up and manipulates mental images and also has a limited capacity. The last slave system is the Episodic Buffer which was recently added in the year 2000, it is responsible for integrating information from other stores and producing new chunks of information, this also has a limited capacity. All the slave systems can work individually; this means it is possible to carry out different tasks that use different stores at the same time. However, all the slave systems have a limited capacity.
The Working Memory Model is supported by PAULESCU et al. 1993 who aimed to identify what areas of the brain are active during different tasks. PAULESCU et al. 1993 used two groups of participants; group 1 completed a verbal task which used the phonological loop. Group 2 completed a