The Working Memory Model

The Working Memory Model (WMM) was proposed by Baddeley & Hitch (1974) as an alternative to the MSM's concept of a single, unitary STM store. Rather than a simple storage system, working memory is an active processor that manipulates information while it is being used for complex cognitive tasks such as reasoning, comprehension, and learning.

Key Definition: Working memory is the part of memory that is active when we are temporarily storing and manipulating information, for example during problem-solving, mental arithmetic, or reading.

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Components of the Working Memory Model

graph TD
    CE["Central Executive<br/>(Supervisory attention system)"]
    PL["Phonological Loop"]
    VSS["Visuo-Spatial Sketchpad"]
    EB["Episodic Buffer<br/>(Added by Baddeley, 2000)"]
    LTM["Long-Term Memory"]

    CE --> PL
    CE --> VSS
    CE --> EB
    EB --> LTM

    PL --> PS["Phonological Store<br/>(Inner ear)"]
    PL --> AP["Articulatory Process<br/>(Inner voice)"]

    VSS --> VC["Visual Cache<br/>(Inner eye)"]
    VSS --> IS["Inner Scribe<br/>(Spatial/movement)"]

1. Central Executive (CE)