Lecture 31- Memory-III

This lecture focuses on working memory. We will talk about how manipulation of information is accomplished in working memory. We will also discuss about experiments that have been conducted using imaging techniques and ERP's to study working memory.

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WORKING MEMORY
Alan Baddeley proposed that memory processes must be dynamic and they must also consider the number of components that can function separately. Gave birth to this idea of Working memory.
Working memory is defined as a limited capacity system for temporary storage & manipulation of information.
(Baddeley & Hitch 1974)
The working memory accomplishes the manipulation of information through the action of three components: the phonological loop, the visuo-spatial sketchpad & the central executive.
The phonological loop consists of two components:
1. the phonological store, which has a limited capacity and holds information for only a few seconds
2. the articulatory rehearsal process, which is responsible for rehearsal that can keep items in the phonological store from decaying
The phonological loop holds verbal and auditory information.
The visuo-spatial sketchpad holds visual and spatial information.
The central executive is where the major work of working memory occurs. The central executive pulls information from the LTM and coordinates the activity of the PL & VSSP by focussing on specific parts of a task, and switching attention from one part to another.
One of the main tasks of the central executive is to decide on how to divide attention between tasks.
-The Phonological Loop:
The Phonological Similarity Effect- the confusion of letters/words that sound similar (remember Conrad's experiment)
(Baddeley et al 1984) the Word Length Effect- occurs when memory for lists of words is better for short words than for long words.
(Baddeley 2000) Articulatory Suppression- one of these ways where operation of the phonological loop can be disrupted, occurs when a person is prevented from rehearsing some verbal information by asking them to repeat an irrelevant sound. This particular phenomenon occurs because you cannot maintain too much verbal information at the same time in the phonological loop (speaking interferes with rehearsal)
(Baddeley et al 1984) repeating irrelevant information not only reduces the ability to remember a list of words but also eliminates the word length effect
-The Visuospatial Sketchpad:
Handles visual & spatial information, and is therefore involved in the process of visual imagery
(Shepard & Metzler 1971) mental rotation of objects occurs to compare
(Brooks 1968)