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Working memory model
AS level psychology, cognitive psychology. AQA spec A.
Baddeley & Hitch came up with the working memory model. The working memory is the part of the memory which is being used whilst you are doing tasks and placed into your memory.
The model
- Central Executive: Monitors and co-ordinates all other mental functions within the working memory. Limited Capacity.
- Episodic Buffer: Receives input from several sources and temporarily stores the information and then uses it to create a mental episode of what is being experienced.
- Phonological loop: Encodes speech sounds in working memory. Typically involves maintained rehearsal. Preserves the order of the information.
- Viso-Spatial sketch pad: Encodes visual information in terms of seperate objects aswell as the arrangement of these objects.
Evaluation of the model
| Strengths
| Limitations
|
| Broadens the role of the STM by emphasizing it's importance in active processing as well as storage.
| We do not learn much about the long term memory.
|
| Model predicts whether two or more tasks can be performed successfully at the same time.
| Not much is known about the central executive and it is not clear how the components interact with each other.
|
| Central executive links memory with attention.
| Viso-Spatial sketch pad is not explained much
|
notes
