Working Memory
And Case Studies
Working Memory Model
Components of working memory
Central Executive: Directs attention to particular tasks. It
controls the other systems by determining how resources will
be allocated. (Think a control tower at an airport.)
Phonological loop: Controls auditory information. Further
subdivided into the phonological store (inner ear) and
articulatory process (inner voice).
Visuo-spatial pad: Processes visual and spatial information
(how things look and where they are).
Episodic buffer: general store. Added later to the model to
account for things that use both visual and acoustic
information.
Case Studies
What is a case study?
A case study is a detailed study of one individual or
event.
Many different psychological techniques can be used
(e.g., questionnaires, interviews, personality tests).
The findings attempt to represent the individual’s
thoughts, emotions, experiences and abilities.
The Case of Phineas Gage
In the year 1848, a terrible accident occurred.
Doctors report:
[The tamping iron] entered the cranium, passing
through the anterior left lobe of the cerebrum, and
made its exit in the medial line, lacerating the
longitudinal sinus, fracturing the parietal and frontal
bones extensively, breaking up considerable
portions of the brain, and protruding the globe of
the left eye from its socket, by nearly half its
diameter.
Phineas Gage lived for 12
years after the accident. He
was able to speak normally,
however, his personality
changed massively after the
accident. Whereas before he
was well-liked, responsible,
and hard-working, he now
became restless, indecisive
and swore a lot.
What does Phineas Gage’s case tell us about the
brain?
-Showed that parts of the brain could be removed
without having a fatal effect.
-Different areas of the brain are in control of
different fuctions.
- Damage to the front of the brain leads to
personality changes.
The Case of KF
In the 1970s, KF was in
a motorcycle accident,
resulting in brain
damage to his left
occipiatal lobe (pictured
right).
STM was damaged
(digit span of 1), but
LTM was normal
He remembers words
better if presented
visually as opposed to
auditorally.
KF’s memory
What does KF’s case study tell psychologists about
memory? Which model does it support?
Although his LTM is
intact, his STM is not,
which supports the
Multi-Store Memory
model.
However, he remembers
words better if presented
visually rather than
auditorally, which
supports the Working
Memory Model.
The Case of HM
HM’s
brain
compared
to normal
brain
HM’s lobotomy
In the 1940s, HM had a lobotomy performed on him to
correct epileptic seizures.
After the surgery, HM was no longer able to form new
long-term memories. For many years, he believed that
he was 27 years old, and the year was 1953.
HM had kept his procedural memory (memory for skills)
but not his episodic memory (memory of events). His
body knew the way to his doctor’s office, even though
he didn’t!!
What does HM’s case tell psychologists about
memory?
There are different long-term
memory stores (procedural and
episodic).
HM’s case also supports Peterson
and Peterson’s study. His short
term memory is about 20 seconds
long.
Clive Wearing
Clive Wearing, a man like HM, who has no long-term
memory.
He, too, can form procedural memories but not episodic
memories.
Case Studies
Please answer the following questions:
1. In what way have the case studies we just looked at
enhanced your understanding of memory?
2. Why do you think there are so many case studies related
to memory?
3. Describe what research methods were likely to be used in
the case studies we just looked at?
4. Suggest two advantages of using case studies rather than
experiments.
5. Suggest two weaknesses.
6. A hospital is interested why some patients with head
injuries recover faster than others. Why would you
recommend using case studies, and how would you do it?
Evidence to support the WM model:
Do it yourself: What evidence is there to support
the Working Memory model?
Please present one study to support the existence of:
1. The Central executive
2. Phonological loop
3. Visuo-spatial sketch pad
4. Episodic buffer
Please give the names of the experimenters, the
procedure, the results and the conclusions of your
study.