The Working Memory Model

The working memory model (WMM) was proposed by Baddeley and Hitch (1974) as an alternative to the multi-store model's view of short-term memory as a single, unitary store. The WMM suggests that STM is not one simple store but an active system made up of several components that work together to process information.

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Why Was the Working Memory Model Needed?

Atkinson and Shiffrin's multi-store model described STM as a single store. However, research showed that people can carry out two tasks simultaneously if they use different types of information (e.g. a verbal task and a visual task) but struggle to perform two tasks that use the same type of information. This suggested that STM must have separate components for processing different types of information, not just one single store.

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Components of the Working Memory Model

The WMM has four components:

1. The Central Executive

The central executive is the most important component. It acts as a control centre that:

• Directs attention to particular tasks
• Allocates resources to the other components (called "slave systems")
• Monitors and coordinates the work of the other components