Working memory is our mental workspace for juggling information. It's like a mental sticky note where we temporarily store and manipulate details we need right now. This system is crucial for tasks like problem-solving, decision-making, and language comprehension.
Different models explain how working memory operates. Some see it as separate components for different types of information, while others view it as a spotlight of attention on activated long-term memories. Understanding these models helps us grasp how we process information in real-time.
Components and Functions of Working Memory Models
Components of Baddeley's working memory model
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Central Executive coordinates information from slave systems and allocates cognitive resources as attentional control system
Phonological Loop stores and rehearses verbal information through phonological store and articulatory rehearsal process
Visuospatial Sketchpad maintains and manipulates visual and spatial information with separate components for each
Episodic Buffer integrates information from different subsystems and long-term memory with limited capacity storage (added later to original model)
Functions of phonological loop and sketchpad
Phonological Loop:
Phonological store holds speech-based information for 1-2 seconds before decay
Articulatory rehearsal process refreshes information in store and converts visual information into phonological code
Word length effect makes longer words harder to remember (supercalifragilisticexpialidocious)
Phonological similarity effect causes similar-sounding words to be more difficult to recall (cat, hat, mat)
Visuospatial Sketchpad:
Visual cache stores visual information (color, shape)
Inner scribe maintains spatial information and movement sequences
Limited capacity of approximately 3-4 objects (red square, blue circle, green triangle)
Susceptible to interference from visual and spatial tasks (mental rotation, spatial navigation)
Central executive in working memory
Attentional control focuses, divides, and switches attention while inhibiting irrelevant information
Task coordination manages concurrent processing of information from slave systems and allocates resources
Strategic retrieval activates and retrieves information from long-term memory
Mental manipulation updates and manipulates information in working memory
Capacity limitations make it vulnerable to cognitive load and task complexity (multitasking, problem-solving)
Models of working memory
Baddeley's Multicomponent Model:
Emphasizes distinct components with specific functions
Includes separate systems for verbal and visuospatial information
Central executive acts as control system
Cowan's Embedded-Processes Model :
Focus of attention forms core of working memory
Limited capacity of approximately 4 chunks of information
Activated portion of long-term memory
No separate storage systems for different types of information
Similarities:
Both acknowledge limited capacity of working memory
Recognize importance of attention in working memory processes
Differences:
Structural approach (Baddeley) vs functional approach (Cowan)
Separate systems (Baddeley) vs activated long-term memory (Cowan)
Specific capacity limits for subsystems (Baddeley) vs general capacity limit (Cowan)