Working Memory
COGNITIVE MODEL
OTHER SKILLS
Phonological Loop
Visuo-spatial Sketch Pad
Temporary Store; limited capacity; hold & manipulate visuospatial
Central Executive
"Almost dead"; Concept of homunculus
Temporary Store; Limited capacity; temporal - space in loop is limited by articulation speed
Evidence
NEURAL MECHANISMS
Word length effect
Phonological Similarity effect (STM)
Irrelevant Sound effect
Ireelvant spoken material while doing WM task
Lesion Data
STM verbal deficits; seen in MCA stroke
Early Imaging: tested assumption that left is WM and visuospatial was right
Currently: not as specialised for WM as previously considered - more likely networked based approach
Need for central component in our understanding of it
TRAINING
PFC
Lesion Data; Non-Human Primate studies
Cells of PFC specifically fired in delay period of delayed response test
If neural activity doesn't persist in the delay period, memory performance is poor
This neural activity dissipates when no longer needed
Magnitude of persistant activity is associated with memory load
Selective
Cells are selective active for cues, delay period & responding
fMRI
Similar patterns of persistent PFC activity in delay period of retention task
Questions re: Persistent Activity