Outline the Working Memory Model

310 Words2 Pages
The working memory model states that short-term memory involves the active processing and short-term storage of information. Working memory includes a central executive component which is used for planning and problem-solving as well as controlling the other three components. Firstly, the phonological loop component includes a phonological store for storing sound information and an articulatory control process for repeating sounds. Secondly, the visuo-spatial sketch pad mentally manipulates images and space, for example it is used when a person imagines the layout of their house. Finally, the episodic buffer integrates information from different sources. The model has strong research support from dual task studies such as research by Pearson which found that participants who completed an image manipulation task at the same time as a spatial task performed worse compared to those who completed the image manipulation task and an articulatory suppression task. This is because the image manipulation and spatial tasks both required the use of the visuo-spatial sketch pad which made it more difficult for both tasks to be completed simultaneously. In comparison, the articulatory suppression task didn’t use the visuo-spatial sketch pad because it required only the use of the phonological loop. Therefore when the articulatory suppression task was completed at the same time as the image manipulation, separate components were used for each task, allowing the tasks to be completed more efficiently. This is evidence demonstrating that short-term memory is made up of separate components which serve different purposes, therefore supporting the working memory model. Another strength of this model is that its multiple components provides a more effective account of short-term memory than the single component short-term memory of the multi-store memory model. However, a weakness of

More about Outline the Working Memory Model

Open Document