The working memory model [AQA ALevel]

Summary

This video explains the Working Memory Model (WMM), a refined version of the Short-Term Memory concept. It explores the model’s components: the Central Executive, Phonological Loop, Visuospatial Sketchpad, and Episodic Buffer, each responsible for different memory processes like auditory and visual information handling. The video reviews studies supporting the model, including dual-task experiments and brain evidence, as well as the criticisms of its concepts, such as the poorly defined Central Executive. Despite these critiques, the WMM offers a more nuanced understanding of short-term memory, highlighting its active nature and influencing modern memory research.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Working Memory Model is an improved version of the Short Term Memory Store in the Multi-Store Model, explaining how the brain processes both auditory and visual information in short-term memory.
• 😀 The model consists of the Central Executive and three sub-systems: the Phonological Loop, Visuospatial Sketchpad, and Episodic Buffer.
• 😀 The Central Executive acts as the 'head' of the model, directing attention to information and controlling the other subsystems, but has limited capacity and can only process one type of information at a time.
• 😀 The Phonological Loop processes auditory information, consisting of two parts: the Phonological Store (inner ear) and the Articulatory Process (inner voice). Its capacity is determined by how much can be said in two seconds.
• 😀 The Visuospatial Sketchpad processes visual and spatial information, acting as an 'inner eye,' with subcomponents: the Visual Cache (passive store for forms and color) and the Inner Scribe (for relationships in 3D space).
• 😀 The Episodic Buffer was added by Baddeley in 2000 to address the integration of visual, auditory, and long-term memory information, serving as a storage and integration system.
• 😀 Unlike the Multi-Store Model, the Working Memory Model only requires understanding of coding and capacity for each component, not duration.
• 😀 Studies support the Working Memory Model: Dual Task Performance studies show the separation between the slave systems (Phonological Loop and Visuospatial Sketchpad).
• 😀 Case studies, such as the KF case, demonstrate how selective impairments in short-term memory (visual vs. verbal) indicate the separation of the components of the Working Memory Model.
• 😀 Brain scanning studies (e.g., Prabhakaran et al.) provide biological evidence for the existence and location of the Episodic Buffer in the brain, particularly in the prefrontal cortex when integrating information.
• 😀 The Working Memory Model is criticized for its vague description of the Central Executive, its reliance on laboratory studies, and the use of inferences about underlying cognitive processes, which may not fully explain memory function.

Q & A

What is the working memory model, and how does it improve upon the multi-store model of memory?

The working memory model is an enhancement of the multi-store model, offering a more complex view of short-term memory. Unlike the multi-store model, which treats short-term memory as a passive store, the working memory model depicts short-term memory as an active processor that can handle both auditory and visual information simultaneously.

What are the four key components of the working memory model?

The four key components of the working memory model are: the Central Executive, which manages attention and coordinates other components; the Phonological Loop, which processes auditory information; the Visuo-Spatial Sketchpad (VSS), which processes visual and spatial information; and the Episodic Buffer, which integrates information from the other components and long-term memory.

How does the Central Executive function in the working memory model?

The Central Executive acts as the control system, directing attention to relevant information and coordinating the other components (subsystems). It is responsible for managing tasks but has a limited capacity, handling only one type of information at a time.

What is the role of the phonological loop in the working memory model?

The Phonological Loop processes auditory information. It has two parts: the Phonological Store, which temporarily holds sounds and words (the 'inner ear'), and the Articulatory Process, which rehearses the information through the 'inner voice.' It has a capacity limited to information that can be said in about two seconds.

How does the Visuo-Spatial Sketchpad (VSS) function in the working memory model?

The Visuo-Spatial Sketchpad processes visual and spatial information, often referred to as the 'inner eye.' It is split into two parts: the Visual Cache, which stores visual details (like color and shape), and the Inner Scribe, which holds spatial relationships and movements between objects.

What is the purpose of the Episodic Buffer in the working memory model?

The Episodic Buffer integrates information from the phonological loop, the visuo-spatial sketchpad, and long-term memory. It was added to the model by Baddeley in 2000 to address the need for a system that combines different types of information and stores them temporarily.

What are the key features of the working memory model that students need to understand for exams?

Students need to focus on the features of the model, particularly the coding and capacity of the different components. For example, the phonological loop uses acoustic coding, and the visuo-spatial sketchpad uses visual coding. The central executive has a limited capacity, around four items.

How does Baddeley’s dual-task performance study support the working memory model?

Baddeley’s dual-task performance study demonstrated that participants performed better when completing two different types of tasks (e.g., visual and verbal) than when performing two visual tasks. This suggests that the phonological loop and visuo-spatial sketchpad are separate systems with distinct capacities.

What does the case study of KF suggest about the working memory model?

The case study of KF, a patient with brain damage, showed that his verbal short-term memory was impaired, while his visual short-term memory remained intact. This supports the idea that the phonological loop and visuo-spatial sketchpad are distinct and operate in different parts of the brain.

What is the criticism of the Central Executive in the working memory model?

The Central Executive is criticized for being an unclear and poorly defined concept. Some argue that it functions as a 'homunculus,' a catch-all for any unexplained function in the model. Baddeley acknowledged this criticism and suggested that further research is needed to better define its role.