Working memory is our mental workspace for juggling information. It's like a mental sticky note where we temporarily store and manipulate details we need right now. This system is crucial for tasks like problem-solving, decision-making, and language comprehension.

Different models explain how working memory operates. Some see it as separate components for different types of information, while others view it as a spotlight of attention on activated long-term memories. Understanding these models helps us grasp how we process information in real-time.

Components and Functions of Working Memory Models

Components of Baddeley's working memory model

• Central Executive coordinates information from slave systems and allocates cognitive resources as attentional control system
• Phonological Loop stores and rehearses verbal information through phonological store and articulatory rehearsal process
• Visuospatial Sketchpad maintains and manipulates visual and spatial information with separate components for each
• Episodic Buffer integrates information from different subsystems and long-term memory with limited capacity storage (added later to original model)

Functions of phonological loop and sketchpad

• Phonological Loop:
  • Phonological store holds speech-based information for 1-2 seconds before decay
  • Articulatory rehearsal process refreshes information in store and converts visual information into phonological code
  • Word length effect makes longer words harder to remember (supercalifragilisticexpialidocious)
  • Phonological similarity effect causes similar-sounding words to be more difficult to recall (cat, hat, mat)
• Visuospatial Sketchpad:
  • Visual cache stores visual information (color, shape)
  • Inner scribe maintains spatial information and movement sequences
  • Limited capacity of approximately 3-4 objects (red square, blue circle, green triangle)
  • Susceptible to interference from visual and spatial tasks (mental rotation, spatial navigation)

Central executive in working memory

• Attentional control focuses, divides, and switches attention while inhibiting irrelevant information
• Task coordination manages concurrent processing of information from slave systems and allocates resources
• Strategic retrieval activates and retrieves information from long-term memory
• Mental manipulation updates and manipulates information in working memory
• Capacity limitations make it vulnerable to cognitive load and task complexity (multitasking, problem-solving)

Models of working memory

• Baddeley's Multicomponent Model:
  • Emphasizes distinct components with specific functions
  • Includes separate systems for verbal and visuospatial information
  • Central executive acts as control system
• Cowan's Embedded-Processes Model:
  • Focus of attention forms core of working memory
  • Limited capacity of approximately 4 chunks of information
  • Activated portion of long-term memory
  • No separate storage systems for different types of information
• Similarities:
  • Both acknowledge limited capacity of working memory
  • Recognize importance of attention in working memory processes
• Differences:
  • Structural approach (Baddeley) vs functional approach (Cowan)
  • Separate systems (Baddeley) vs activated long-term memory (Cowan)
  • Specific capacity limits for subsystems (Baddeley) vs general capacity limit (Cowan)