Working Memory Model

Phonological Loop

Contains 2 components: the phonological store (inner ear) and the articulatory control system (inner voice). The phonological store holds sound representations (verbal and acoustic information) in a sound-based form for 1.5 - 2 seconds. These sounds will fade unless they are used by the articulatory control system (ACS). The information can originate from echoic memory or long-term storage. The ACS holds sounds that we want to keep or are preparing to speak, which lasts up to 2 seconds. The phonological loop however can hold the sounds up to 2 seconds unless the information is rehearsed.

Example #2: Interactions Between 4 Components

Cooking Food for the Family Using Ingredients in House Only Phonological loop => Inner voice holds verbal sounds while you solve the problem Visuo-spatial sketchpad => Inner eye holds visual and spatial information while you solve the problem Central executive => Decides what information is needed from LTM and is sent to either PL or VSS. Irrelevant or unneeded information is blocked while you were working. Episodic buffer =>Workspace that combines all information together into a scene or episode

Example of Visuo-Spatial Sketchpad

How many doors in your house? When answering this question, you probably imagined your house and a walk-through of the rooms to count the doors. This process occurs in your visual-spatial sketchpad.

Working Memory & Multi-tasking

Research has shown that the memory stores are fairly independent of each other, which means that we can multi-task quite easily with the exception that the tasks are using different working memory stores. If two tasks such as talking on the phone and talking to someone beside you (phonological loop) use the same store than we experience more trouble completing the two tasks simultaneously.

Episodic Buffer

This component is controlled by the central executive and helps in retrieving information from long-term memory, and associates it with the other 2 components (PL & VSS) Other functions: ☼ This component can also hold information in any form, being modality free, which allows auditory information to combine with visual/spatial information. ☼ Pulls/retrieves information from long-term memory, phonological loop and visuo-spatial sketchpad together to create scenes/episodes ☼ Similar to a "workspace" in which the scenes/episodes are processed, edited and reordered The capacity is 4 information bits

Central Executive

This component is the most important and complex element. The tasks that are carried out are: ☼ Coordinating and integrating information from the phonological loop and visuo-spatial sketchpad. However, this information are not stored or processed by the central executive. ☼ Directing the shift/movement of information from short-term and long-term storage, vice-versa ☼ Directing your attention ☼ Filtering what information is essential and non-essential ☼ Selecting, deleting and reorganizing information from other sub-systems ☼ The "boss" of the working memory

Visuo-spatial Sketchpad (Visual Working Memory)

This is a temporary storage for visual and spatial information. Visual information is anything that you see or visualize Spatial information is the location of the objects in space/environment

Example #1: Interactions Between 4 Components

What is the Fastest Route to a Party? Phonological loop => rehearses directions sub-vocally (inside the head without vocalization) Visuo-spatial sketchpad => visualizes the possible routes Central executive => directs episodic buffer Episodic buffer: combines visual and verbal information from PL, VSS and LTM to create an episode (mental representation) of the journey

Example of Phonological Loop

Who do you want to have dinner with you? When answering this question, you probably talked in your head to decide on your choices and options. These words were held in your phonological loop.

Working Memory Model (Baddeley and Hitch)

Working memory is an alternative theory to the short-term memory model and is used to emphasize the active memory part, in which information that we are consciously aware of are 'worked on' in many ways. Baddeley and Hitch (1974) first created the four-component or subsystems structure of the working memory model. Each component is separate but interdependent of one another as well as each having a limited capacity. This model aims towards explaining how memory deals with complex and important cognitive activities (knowing, perceiving, remembering...) instead of only capacity, duration and rehearsal.