argued this was too simplistic. They proposed working memory as an active system responsible for both temporary storage and manipulation of information needed for complex cognitive tasks (e.g., reasoning, learning, comprehension).
| Component | Brain regions | |-----------|----------------| | | Left hemisphere: Broca's area (articulatory control), supramarginal gyrus (phonological store) | | Visuospatial sketchpad | Right hemisphere: occipital (visual), parietal (spatial), frontal eye fields | | Central executive | Prefrontal cortex (especially dorsolateral PFC) – damaged in patients with dysexecutive syndrome | | Episodic buffer | Hippocampus (binding), parietal cortex (capacity-limited storage) | baddeley memory model
The original model struggled to explain how we combine information from different sources (e.g., remembering a story involves words from the Loop and mental images from the Sketchpad). argued this was too simplistic
Understanding the Baddeley & Hitch Model of Working Memory In 1974, Alan Baddeley and Graham Hitch changed the way we think about the human mind. Before their work, psychologists largely viewed short-term memory as a single "loading dock"—a simple waiting room for information before it moved into long-term storage. Understanding the Baddeley & Hitch Model of Working
| Strengths | Limitations | | :--- | :--- | | Unlike earlier models that viewed STM as passive storage, this model views working memory as an active workspace for complex cognition. | The Central Executive is Vague: Critics argue the Central Executive is too broad and unexplained. It is often accused of being a "homunculus" (a little man in the head doing the work) without explaining how the decisions are made. | | Dual-Task Evidence: It is strongly supported by dual-task interference experiments. | Sensory Overlap: Some research suggests the distinction between the visual and auditory stores is not as clear-cut as the model suggests. | | Clinical Application: It helps psychologists understand and treat specific memory deficits following brain injuries. | Individual Differences: The model doesn't fully account for why working memory capacity varies significantly between individuals. |