2.2.1 Working Memory Model

Baddeley and Hitch

Features:

• Short-term memory, which is seen as being an active store that holds information whilst it's being worked on and enables us to manipulate pieces of information
• There are multiple different components to short-term memory which store different types of memories (Short-term memory is the same as working memory)

Central executive: The "Control centre" which coordinates processes within the system

Visuo-spatial sketchpad: Processes visual and spatial information

Episodic buffer: Integrates information across the other components of the WMM

Phonological loop: The component of working memory that stores auditory and verbal information and remembers the order it is presented. It also stores verbal information that is presented visually through subvocal rehearsal.

Subcomponents of the phonological loop:

• Primary acoustic store
• Articulatory process The primary acoustic store - Stores auditory information for 1-2 seconds whilst we process it. It also filters out everything that we don't want to store for longer. When it refreshes, all information is filtered out.

If information needs to be stored for more than 1-2 seconds it is transferred to the second sub-component which is…

The articulatory process - Stores useful information in working memory for longer, while we need it for an ongoing task.

Another example diagram:

t is more difficult to perform two visual tasks at the same time because they interfere with each other and performance is reduced. The same applies to performing two verbal tasks at the same time. This supports the view that the phonological loop and the sketchpad are separate systems within working memory.

Evaluation:

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