Working Memory Model - Quiz

Prep Work Check: Please have your completed WMM diagrams available for checking.

Starter: Complete the WMM Quiz while we wait for the second bell. How many will you score out of 7…

What do each of these

components do?

What component is missing from this

diagram?

Episodic Buffer

Central Executive

The boss of the WMM; It controls attention and

directs information to the slave systems.

It has a limited capacity.

Phonological Loop

Articulatory Control Process (Inner Voice) Allows sub vocal repetition of items

in the phonological store .

Phonological Store (Inner Ear) Stores acoustic items (speech based

sounds) for short periods of time. It has a limited capacity.

Visuo-Spatial Scratch Pad

The ‘Inner Eye’ of the WMM;

Stores visual and spatial information;

Manipulates mental images;

It has a limited capacity.

Episodic Buffer

Episodic Buffer

It integrates (binds together) information from the LTM and other components.

Evaluation of the Working Memory Model

Strengths: Dual Task Studies Patient KF

Weakness: The Central Executive Only STM?

Dual Task Studies

Dual-task studies – This is where participants have to perform 2 different tasks at the same time.

Robinson et al. (2014)

You will now complete two short tasks. The tasks need to be completed in silence.

You will have one minute to work on both tasks at the same time…

Informed Consent: Raise your hands if I have your consent.

Right to Withdraw: You do have the right to withdraw.

Task 1

Try to memorise the following number: 6839520148, while drawing a picture of a monkey having a shower…(incase you don’t know what that looks like…)

You have one minute.

Task 1 - Recall

Now recall the 10 digits, in the correct order…

6839520148

Task 2

Try to memorise the following number: 7624851307, while writing the alphabet backwards…Z, Y, X…etc

You have one minute.

Task 2 - Recall

Now recall the 10 digits, in the correct order…

7624851307

The Results…

Group Task 1 (Visual)No. of students to correctly recall 10

digit number.

Task 2 (Auditory)No. of students to correctly recall 10

digit number.

LPSY1

LPSY4

LPSY5

LPSY7

LPSY8

Question: What do these results tell us about memory and the WMM?

Dual task studies

This is where participants perform two tasks at the same time;

If both tasks used the same component (phonological loop) then performance will be poor, where if both tasks uses a different component (phonological loop & visuo-spatial sketchpad) then performance will be improved.

Question (Write the answers in your blue books):

Explain how dual task studies can be used to support the WMM?

Patient KF…Again

Question (Write the answers in your blue books):

According to the WMM which store was damaged and which store was intact?

How does KF support the WWM?

Patient KF suffered brain injuries following a motorcycle accident.

He could recall stored info so his LTM was intact;

But his STM was affected, he had problems remembering sounds but he was able to remember images and faces.

Weaknesses of the WMM

Although the Central Executive is the most important component, the least is known about it.

The capacity of the Central Executive has never been measured. Furthermore, it isn’t clear how it works or what is does and this vagueness means it can be used to explain any experimental results.

Difficult to falsify the model as you can use the Central Executive to explain any result. Falsify: Being able to show

that a theory is wrong (false).

Strengths or Weaknesses

Task: Divide the following information into strengths and weaknesses…

Either colour the boxes (i.e. green for strengths, red for weaknesses) or cut and stick the boxes in your exercise books, under the headings of strengths and weaknesses.

Extremely influential model and most psychologists use it in preference to the Multi-Store Model. 

WM only concerns itself with STM and is not a comprehensive model of memory.

Research support comes from dual-task studies, although such studies are rather artificial. However, patients like KF could remember visual but not verbal stimuli in STM so must be at least two systems in STM.

It is a much more plausible model than the MSM because it explains STM in terms of both temporary storage and active processing. 

Although the Central Executive is the most important component, the least is known about it. The capacity of the Central Executive has never been measured. Furthermore, it isn’t clear how it works or what is does and this vagueness means it can be used to explain any experimental results.

WM is supported by Case Studies, such as Patient KF who could remember visual information but not verbal information, suggesting there must be at least two systems in STM.

Physiological evidence exists using studies involving brain scans. PET scans have shown that different areas of the brain are used while undertaking verbal and visual tasks. These areas may correspond to components of WM.

 

Homework

Complete an essay outline, using the sheet provided for the question: ‘Outline and evaluate the working memory model’ (12 marks).

You will NOT be required to write this essay…yet, however it is important you understand the structure and function of the WMM as well as 4 evaluation points, 2 strengths and 2 weaknesses.

N313 - WHITEBOARD - LPSY1

Obi

Tori Desola

Shafiat Tade

Michellle Shamika

Philippa

Sheyi

Christiana

Aisha

Louise

Esther

Tashauna Collins

Jasmine

Carlesha

Tyeisha Chioma

Tamera

Stefan

Sila Zainab

Franklin

TEACHERS DESK

Tomas

LPSY1 – New Seating Plan

Prep Work Check…

You have until the 2nd bell to ‘revise’ the

essay question below. Then you will have 15 minutes to write your

essay.

LPSY8 – New Seating Plan

Prep Work Check…

You have until the 2nd bell to ‘revise’ the

essay question below. Then you will have 15 minutes to write your

essay.

N313 - WHITEBOARD - LPSY8

Tina

Jakkrit Patrice

Megan Chloe

Marcel Angel

Emmanuel

Lauren

Jason Aleksandra

Baduwah

Nicole

Patrick Crissania

Matthew

Ayo

D'Arcy Aisha

Sharhia

Loretta

Anita Tomi

TEACHERS DESK

NelsonCandice

LPSY4 – New Seating Plan

Prep Work Check…

You have until the 2nd bell to ‘revise’ the

essay question below. Then you will have 15 minutes to write your

essay.

N313 - WHITEBOARD - LPSY4

Kai

Nyshara

Christianah Kharice

Shamika Jada

Azeezat

Ayo

Criscelia Kienna

Perihan

Tina

Justine Sasha

Xanthe

Emily

Daniela Ajoke

Folade

Demi

Sarah Ade

Sharon

TEACHERS DESK

LPSY7 – New Seating Plan

Prep Work Check…

You have until the 2nd bell to ‘revise’ the

essay question below. Then you will have 15 minutes to write your

essay.

N313 - WHITEBOARD - LPSY7

Jade

Tanisha Patrick

Anthony Shantel

Phuong Alpha

Priscilla

Chanelle Elouise

Jordan

Charlotte

Anne-Marie Pheonix

Ganiat

Alvin

Jamiliah Lilith

Julie

Desamuel Ayo

Sophia

TEACHERS DESK