System of the memory (theoretical input)
The human memory is separated into different components:
- Central Executive
- Working Memory (WM): Visuospatial Sketchpad & Phonological Loop
- Episodic Buffer
- Long-term Memory (LTM)
(source: www.simplypsychology.org)
"Central Executive"
This is the main component of the memory. It allocates information to the subsystems and deals with cognitive tasks, e.g. problem-solving. All attentive activities are being executed from here. For instance, listening to music and singing along whilst doing the dishes are three processes that are being directed by the Central Executive at the same time. Baddeley sees the role of the Central Executive more of a facilitator of attentional processes rather than an active part of the memory storage process.
Prof. Baddeley talking about the Central Executive:
"Visuospatial Sketchpad"
The "visuospatial sketchpad" is also referred to as the "inner eye", since it is responsible for all visual and spatial information. This component takes care of our visual understanding of our environment, including all its elements. The more often we've been to places, the more accurate is our mental representation of that specific place, e.g. the classroom of your last year at high school that you can recall to its smallest details.
"Phonological Loop"
In this part of the memory, all spoken and written information is being processed. It consists of two elements: (1) the Phonological Store takes care of the speech-based given information and (2) the Articulatory Control Process which converts written information into an "inner voice rehearsing. This step is necessary since otherwise, the written information could not access the Phonological Store. The Articulatory Control Process comes in very handy and can easily be checked through memorizing a telephone number. You will repeat the number over and over again. This process is the Articulatory Control Process.
Prof. Baddeley talking about the Phonological Loop:
"Working Memory"
It is proven that the Visuospatial Sketchpad and the Phonological Loop are the two halves of the Working Memory. That is the part of the memory that is responsible for attentively processing the obtained information. If two visual pieces of information are being perceived at the same time, the process will be slowed down, since resources have to be shared. On the other hand, it is no problem for the Working Memory to process visual and spoken information at the same time.
The Working Memory is being viewed as a multistore that consists of several components.
"Episodic Buffer"
This component interacts with the Working Memory, the Long-Term Memory, as well as the Central Executive, and acts as a temporarily "backup" store. In this specific component, information will be saved in situative chunks, in a multi-dimensional format and allows the Long-Term Memory to link the perceived information to pre-existing knowledge or even save it completely.
Prof. Baddeley explaining the Episodic Buffer himself: