2.1.10

Support for the Working Memory Model

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Shallice and Warrington (1974) - Study of KF

The working memory model is supported by evidence from brain damaged patients such as KF.

Research aim & method

Research aim & method

  • Aim: To investigate a patient KF who had suffered brain damage in a motorcycle accident.
  • Method: A case study using numerous psychometric tests, experiments and observations.
Results

Results

  • KF’s short term memory problems were much greater for auditory information than visual, suggesting his brain damage was restricted to the phonological loop.
Conclusion

Conclusion

  • The case of KF supports both the MSM and the WMM as his LTM was unaffected by his injury, suggesting LTM and STM are different stores.
  • His case supports the WMM as his visuospatial sketchpad seems unaffected by his injury, suggesting that resides in a different area of the brain to the phonological loop which was damaged.
Evaluation

Evaluation

  • Strengths
    • In depth and detailed.
  • Limitations
    • Cannot generalise from a case study.

Limitations of the Working Memory Model

Here are some limitations of the working memory model.

Central executive

Central executive

  • What does the central executive actually do?
  • The model suggests that it allocates attention, but it is not fully explained why it is needed.
Lacks ecological validity

Lacks ecological validity

  • Dual task experiments are very artificial – lacks ecological validity.
Lack of generalisability

Lack of generalisability

  • Cannot generalise from case studies on brain damaged patients.
Ambiguity about the LTM

Ambiguity about the LTM

  • It is only a model of working memory and leaves many unanswered questions about the structure of LTM.
Jump to other topics
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Social Influence

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Memory

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Attachment

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Research Methods

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