Working memory basics
What is the primary function of working memory?
To actively process and temporarily store information while coordinating ongoing mental activities.
What cognitive model explains memory as a series of separate stages where information moves from sensory to short-term to long-term memory?
Atkinson-Shiffrin Model
What did George Miller’s (1956) research demonstrate?
The concept of "7 ± 2" as the capacity of short-term memory.
What component of working memory processes sounds and is responsible for subvocal rehearsal?
Phonological Loop
What is the recency effect in memory recall?
The tendency to remember the last few items in a list better.
How does working memory differ from long-term memory?
Working memory is temporary and limited, while long-term memory has large capacity and stores information permanently.
What is the main limitation of the Atkinson-Shiffrin Model?
It oversimplifies short-term memory and doesn’t explain how we manipulate information.
What did Wickens et al. (1976) discover about proactive interference?
Switching to a new category of words can lead to release from proactive interference.
What part of working memory processes visual and spatial information?
Visuospatial Sketchpad
People with major depression often struggle with which working memory component(s)?
Phonological loop and visuospatial sketchpad, but not always the central executive.
What was the previous term for working memory?
Short-term memory
Who proposed the Working Memory Model with multiple components?
Alan Baddeley & Graham Hitch (1974)
How did Baddeley & Hitch (1974) challenge Miller’s idea of a single short-term memory system?
By showing people can perform verbal and visual tasks at the same time, suggesting multiple components.
What component integrates information from different parts of working memory and long-term memory?
Episodic Buffer
How does working memory relate to ADHD?
Individuals with ADHD struggle with central executive tasks like attention-switching and impulse control.
According to George Miller (1956), how many items can we hold in short-term memory?
7 ± 2 items
What is proactive interference in memory recall?
When old information interferes with learning new information.
What did Lauro et al. (2010) find using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) on the brain?
The left frontal lobe is involved in rehearsing information, and the left parietal lobe in storing auditory information.
What part of working memory is responsible for planning, attention, and decision-making?
Central Executive
What role does the phonological loop play in learning a new language?
It helps with rehearsing sounds, vocabulary, and pronunciation.
What strategy helps us store more information in working memory by grouping items into meaningful units?
Chunking
What does the Brown/Peterson & Peterson Technique demonstrate?
That information in working memory is quickly forgotten without rehearsal.
What was demonstrated in Teasdale et al. (1995) research on daydreaming and memory?
Daydreaming disrupts working memory tasks because it requires the central executive.
What happens when you overload the visuospatial sketchpad?
Performance drops because it has limited capacity, making it difficult to process multiple visual tasks.
Why do people with strong working memory skills perform better in school?
Because working memory supports reading comprehension, reasoning, problem-solving, and note-taking.