Working Memory Model
(Baddeley & Hitch, 1974)

central executive

visuospatial sketchpad

role:

  • controls attention
  • coordinates slave systems
  • monitors overall memory store
  • allocates cognitive memory tasks

phonological loop

exam mark scheme description:
The visuospatial sketchpad is a subsystem that processes visual input such as images or light, and spatial information such as direction

exam mark scheme description:
The central executive is said to control the subsystems while also being involved in tasks such as problem solving and attention

exam mark scheme description:
The phonological loop processes auditory information using the articulatory control to subvocalise and the phonological store to temporarily hold sound

assumptions

PL and VSSP have very limited capacity

articulatory loop

basic role:
processes auditory information

phonological store

auditory information enters, only stored for 1-2 seconds if it doesn't go to articulatory loop

'inner ear'

auditory info rehearsed sub vocally to be remembered

'inner voice'

basic role:
visual and spatial information is processed here

'inner eye'

STM is more complex than suggested in the MSM

visual and auditory info is processed in separate areas

Baddeley and Hitch (1976) dual task experiment:
Visual + verbal task = same as doing tasks individually. Supports different slave systems

Baddeley and Hitch (1976) dual task experiment:
2 visual tasks at once = poor performance. 1 visual task = good performance. Supports limited resource in vssp

Paulesu et al (1993) PET scans:
Scans show the Broca's area (speech area) active during sub vocal rehearsal and supramarginnal gyrus (language processing) active when phonological store is used

Darling et al (1993) spatial and visual tasks:
30 black & white squares, one with a P in it. Ppts asked to recall appearance or position of the P. They were then given either visual or spatial interference. Visual interference did not affect spatial recall and vice versa. Shows vssp as separate units

Lieberman (1980) blind people:
VSSP implies spatial info was first visual info. Blind people have good spatial awareness but no visual info. VSSP should be two stores

Eslinger and Damasio (1985):
After someone had a brain tumour removed, reasoning tests showed they had an intact CE, yet had poor decision making. CE could be multiple parts

too vague and simplistic, does not explain much

most of the info about the CE is from brain damaged patients, so we can't make before and after comparisons, brain damage is also traumatic so may be why behaviour changed