The working memory model

the working memory model emerged as a response to a criticism of the multi-store model as the multi-store was seen as being too passive ans linear; it ignored the interactive nature of memory.

the working memory model is an active store that holds and manipulates information which the brain is actively and consciously working on.

there are 4 parts to the working memory model

• the central executive 

• the episodic buffer 

• the phonological loop

• the visuospatial sketchpad

the central executive is a filter which moniters and co-ordinates the operation of the other components in the store.

a major critique of this model is that the role of this component is unclear.

added when the model was updated by Baddeley (2000) after the model failed to explained the results of various experiments.

the episodic buffer acts as a 'back up' store which communicates with both long term memory and the components of working memory

there are two subsystems within the phonological loop

• articulatory control system - or inner voice, a verbal rehearsal system 

• phonological store - or inner ear, this memory trace lasts 1.5-2 seconds if not rehearsed by the articulatory control system. it can also recieve information directly from the sensory memory or long term memory.

this holds both visual and spatial information, which can come from sensory memory or the long term memory

the working memory model was developed to explain dual task performance , which could not be explained by the multi-store.

it has been shown experimentally by Baddely that short term memory does have different stores for different types of information by preforming cocurrent (at the same time) tasks.

the model is also supported by brain damaged patients such as KF - KFs short term memory problems were greater for auditory information than visual, suggesting his brain damage was restricted to the phonological loop.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

the major criticism of the working memory model is what the role and purpose of the central executive is. the idea that it allocates resources doesn't differentiate it from attention. 

the episodic buffer was added in 2000 to try and answer this however the role of the central executive is still unclear. 

EVR had a cerebral tumour removed and performed well on reasoning skills, suggesting his central excutive was intact but had very poor decision making skills suggesting it wasn't...

the majority of evidence for the working memory model comes from brain damaged patients however they are not a reliable source of evidence.

• we rarely know what their cognitive functioning skills were like before the brain damage 

• there are a limited number of patients available to study

• research evidence form dual task experiments 

• supported by evidence from brain damaged patients 

• the role of the central executive is unclear - what does the central executive actually do? allocates attention? not fully explained.
• dual task experiments are very artificial - lacks ecological validity
• does long term memory have a similar structure?