Describe the working memory model of memory (6 marks)

The working memory model was proposed by Baddeley and Hitch in 1974. They thought there were 3 different stores for short term memory; the phonological loop, the visuospatial sketchpad, and the central executive. The phonological loop is the system that deals with the temporary storage of auditory information. It consists of two separate components which work together; the primary acoustic store (the inner ear) which is very limited as auditory information decays very rapidly and the articulatory loop (the inner voice) which revives memory traces by rehearsing them in your head. On the other hand the visuospatial sketchpad (the inner eye) holds the informations we see and manipulates spatial information. The sketchpad is sometimes said to be divided into visual, spatial and kinaesthetic (movement parts) and is located in the right hemisphere of the brain. This store is limited in capacity as it holds approximately 3-4 objects at a time. Finally, the central executive controls the other components of the working memory and controls all cognitive processes. It was also regarded as having limited capacity but can deal with different types of sensory information. It takes information from external sensory stimulus which goes through the sensory register to the central executive. The information circulates through the short term memory stores back to the central executive into the long term memory.