The WMM - Baddeley and Hitch

Model of STM

Central executive

Allocates slave systems and monitors incoming data

  • limited capacity store

Lack of clarity (-)

  • cog psychologists say that its unsatisfactory and should be more clearly defined than simply 'pay attention' showing that the WMM isn't fully explained
  • Important as this is the main element of the model

Phonological loop

This deals with auditory information

  • Articulatory process- allows maintenance rehearsal
  • Phonological store - stores the words you hear

Visual-spatial sketchpad

this stores visual/spatial info

  • inner scribe - records arrangements of objects in visual field
  • visual cache - stores visual data

Episodic buffer

Temporary store for information and integrated all other stores recording events (episodic) linking to LTM

Added in 2000

Case of KF supports STM stores

brain damaged patient could recall words when he read them himself, however could not recall words read allowed to him

  • so his Phonological loop had been damaged but left his articulatory store relatively unaffected
  • this suggests there are separate visual and acoustic stores

However, evidence from brain damaged pp's may be unreliable as it concerns unique pp's who've had traumatic experiences

  • lack of control over variables e.g. precise location of brain damage and pp variables

Dual-task studies supports VSS

Baddeley found pp's had more difficulty doing 2 visual tasks than a visual and auditory task at the same time

  • This is because both visual tasks compete for the same limited resources where as if autitory also then there is no competition
  • evidence for VSS which the MSM can't explain

Supported by brain scan studies

PP's carried out tasks involving the CE while their brans were scanned. Activity found int he prefrontal cortex

  • activity in this area increased as the tasks became harder - this makes sense in terms of the WMM as demands on the CE increased, it has to work harder to fulfil its functions
  • provides evidence that the CE may have a physical reality in the brain

Reductionist

WMM breaks memory down into individual components opposed to holistic approach by looking at memory as a whole in individuals