Working Memory

Summary

Coming soon...

Key Points

• Working Memory
  • Second step of information processing model
    • Occurs after Sensory Memory, but before Long Term Memory
    • Thought to operate in parallel with Short Term Memory on different tasks
  • Function
    • Manipulation and processing of information
      • Chunking
        • Breaking and organizing information into smaller units (“chunks”) to aid memory
          • e.g. telephone number is broken up into two sets of digits ###-####
      • Central Executive
        • Coordinates attention and task switching between other processing tasks
      • Visuospatial sketchpad
        • Processing of visuals and manipulation into mental maps (visuals projected into space)
      • Phonological loop
        • Processing of verbal information, like words / numbers
        • Can come from both iconic or echoic stimuli (reading / hearing)
      • Episodic Buffer
        • Temporal processing (understanding timelines)
        • Also thought to integrate long-term memory knowledge into processing
          • e.g. calculations for tips at a restaurant
  • Duration
    • Similar to Short Term Memory
  • Capacity
    • Similar to Short Term Memory