Mrs. F is having difficulty following recipes while cooking as she is unable to mentally adjust the amount of each ingredient called for in order to make only two portions. This is because of a deficit in her memory, specifically her working memory (WM). While memory is defined as the “storage of things learned and retained from an organism’s activity or experience” (Merriam-Webster, 2015), WM can be described as the cognitive systems that are required to temporarily store and manipulate information (Baddeley, 2012). This report provides an overview of the theoretical multicomponent WM framework as well as an in-depth look at one component of the framework, termed the phonological loop (PL). Overview The theoretical framework of WM was introduced by Baddeley and Hitch in 1974 in response to experiments and neuropsychological case studies that suggested that STM had three components, which was in contrast to the dominant model at the time (as stated in Baddeley, 2010, 2012). To develop evidence to support their notion of multiple STM components, they performed experiments, some of which used the methodology of functionally disabling parts of participants ' STM systems by having them perform multiple memory tasks concurrently (Baddeley, 2012). After 26 years of experimentation a fourth component was added to the framework: the episodic buffer (EB) (Baddeley, 2000). Components: The central executive (CE) is the least understood of the four components, but is also of
In the last half century several theories have emerged with regard to the best model for human memory. In each of these models there was a specific way to help people recall words and
Researchers such as Logie, Baddeley and Bunge generally agree that the short-term memory is made up of a number of components or subsystems. The working memory model has replaced the idea of a unitary store short-term memory as suggested by the multistore model. The working memory model explains a lot more and in a lot more detail than the multistore model. It makes sense a range of tasks- verbal reasoning, comprehension, reading, problem solving and visual and spatial processing, it also applies to real life tasks such as reading which involves the phonological loop subsystem, problem solving which involves the central executive and navigation which involves the visual and spatial subsystem. The Working Memory Model is supported by
Atkinson’s and Shiffrin’s (1968) multi-store model was extremely successful in terms of the amount of research it generated. However, as a result of this research, it became apparent that there were a number of problems with their ideas concerning the characteristics of short-term memory. Building on this research, Baddeley and Hitch (1974) developed an alternative model of short-term memory which they called working memory. Baddeley and Hitch (1974) argued that the picture of short-term memory (STM) provided by the Multi-Store Model is far too simple. According to the Multi-Store Model, STM holds limited amounts of information for short periods of time with relatively little processing. It is
Memory in the human brain is a complex process which is easier understood by the use of theoretical constructs. Memories begin as sensory stimuli which become sensory memory which only last about one second, from there it moves into working memory which lasts for about twenty to thirty seconds and is used to process information. Within working memory there are a few separate processes, the central executive which directs attention, the episodic buffer which is a secondary storage lasting ten to twenty seconds, this area communicates with long term memory as well as the central executive. The visuospatial sketchpad which is used to visualise visual and spacial
Burgess and Hitch (1999) added to and tested the original model of the phonological loop. They created multiple lists: one with the combination of short and long words, one with short words, and one with long words. Burgess and Hitch predicted that the short list would have a higher recall rate, while the long list would take longer to memorize. However, the mixed list would take less time to recall but longer time to memorize (Burgess & Hitch,1999).
Research has long proven demonstrated the human brains’ limitations in recall. As one attempts to remember more than six to seven tasks, there are diminishing returns in efficiency. In addition, persistent exposure to stressful stimuli (as is very common in
Baddeley (2001) suggests a working memory system which consists of four components; a modality-free central executive, a phonological loop which holds information in speech based form, a visuo-spatial sketchpad and an episodic buffer which is the temporary storage system that holds and integrates information from the phonological loop, visuo-spatial sketchpad and long-term memory (Eysenck & Keane, 2005).
This essay will be discussing one particular cognitive process: the memory by evaluating two models, which are the Multi store model introduced by Atkinson and Shiffrin in 1968 and the Working memory model by Baddeley and Hitch in 1974.
How does the phonological loop operate in normal functioning? What happens with people that have working memory impairment?
Baddeley and Hitch determined that this working memory should be divided into three parts based on the type of information it processes. The first part, deemed the central executive area, acts as a boss sending data to the other areas while dealing with cognitive tasks such as problem solving on its own. The visuo-spatial area stores and processes visual information and is responsible for navigation. Finally, the phonological loop stores and processes written and spoken materials and would be responsible for memorizing a telephone number. The phonological loop is further broken down into two parts, the phonological store, which holds spoken information, and the articulatory control process, which is used to store verbal information from the phonological store. In 2000, based on a failure to explain experimental results, Baddeley decided to add the fourth part called the episodic buffer. This component is responsible for communication between long-term and episodic (short-term) memory and serves as a backup (Mcleod, 2008). Working memory and short-term memory are often interchanged, however working memory commonly includes the active processes in the brain that make up the short-term memory, while the term short-term memory solely refers to the brain’s ability to temporarily store
Describe and discuss evidence for the Working Memory Model (Baddeley and Hitch 1974, Baddeley, 1986). Introduction The Working Memory Model (Baddeley and Hitch 1974, Badelley 1986) has an important role to play in complicated cognition in a person’s life. This essay will describe and discuss evidence for the Working Memory Model, which is one of the most important theories for memory aimed to understand how the person takes control and stores information during a task. The Model gives us a helping hand in how the memory is used in day-to-day activities and for example to understand if the memory works harder with more complicated tasks and if it works easier with simpler tasks.
Waring, R., Eadie, P., Liow, S. R., & Dodd, B. (2016). Do children with phonological delay have phonological short-term and phonological working memory deficits? Child Language Teaching and Therapy,33(1), 33-46. doi:10.1177/0265659016654955
This essay addresses the working memory model which was proposed by Baddeley and Hitch (1974 in Smith & Kosslyn, 2007) as a response to Atkinson and Shiffrins (1968 in Smith, 2007) multi-store model. According to Baddely and Hitch the multi-store model failed to explain most of the complexities of the human memory and viewed it as being too simplistic. They argued that the short term memory store must have more components rather it being a single inflexible store as suggested previously by Atkinson and Shiffrin (1968). The working memory model is therefore an enhancement of the multi store model. According to Baddeley and Hitch working memory is a limited- capacity system that stores and processes information.
Beyond the short intervals covered by sensory and working memories, the possible subdivisions of long-term memory have been controversial.
The paper will discuss both STM and LTM based on the textbook, then compare and contrast the information on the textbook, to discuss memory psychologically. There are several resources include this paper, although each resource explains and discusses different significant title, but relevant to the information process in memory. The resources focus on the reason of memory failure in order to explore the method to improve STM and long term memory. Those resources are discovered in psychology database and intimately relate to the topic.