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Developments in the concept of working memory
Alan Baddeley, Graham J. Hitch. Neuropsychology, 1994-01-01
Topic: Brain imaging, connectivity and assessment
The authors summarize developments in the concept of working memory as a multicomponent system, beginning by contrasting this approach with alternative uses of the term working memory. According to a 3-component model, working memory comprises a phonological loop for manipulating and storing speech-based information and a visuospatial sketchpad that performs a similar function for visual and spatial information. Both are supervised by a central executive, which functions as an attentional control system. A simple trace-decay model of the phonological loop provides a coherent account of the effects of word length, phonemic similarity, irrelevant speech, and articulatory suppression in verbal short-term memory tasks. This model of the loop has also proved useful in the analysis of neuropsychological, developmental and, cross-cultural data. The notion of the sketchpad is supported by selective interference with imagery in normal adults and by specific neuropsychological impairment. Analysis of the central executive is illustrated by work on deficits in the ability to coordinate subproccesses in Alzheimer's disease (AD). (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2008 APA, all rights reserved)
Key findings
- A simple trace-decay model of the phonological loop provides a coherent account of the effects of word length, phonemic similarity, irrelevant speech, and articulatory suppression in verbal short-term memory tasks.
- This model of the loop has also proved useful in the analysis of neuropsychological, developmental and, cross-cultural data.
- The notion of the sketchpad is supported by selective interference with imagery in normal adults and by specific neuropsychological impairment.
- Analysis of the central executive is illustrated by work on deficits in the ability to coordinate subproccesses in Alzheimer's disease (AD).
- (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2008 APA, all rights reserved)
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Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 34/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it. We have no data on journal's citation record, times cited, citations per year, impact for its field and year, cited by studies here, still being cited, senior author's track record, institution's track record and multi-centre collaboration, so those were left out: it earned 20 of the 58 points we could judge it on, which is 34 out of 100.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Neuropsychology) |
| Journal's citation record | — / 4 | No journal record from OpenAlex — left out of this score |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 1994 — older than 20 years, still counted |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | — / 7 | No citation count (not found in OpenAlex) — left out of this score |
| Citations per year | — / 5 | No citation count or no year — left out of this score |
| Impact for its field and year | — / 6 | No field-weighted citation impact (OpenAlex has none yet) — left out of this score |
| Cited by studies here | — / 6 | Not yet checked against this library's citation graph — left out of this score |
| Still being cited | — / 4 | No yearly citation counts — left out of this score |
| Senior author's track record | — / 4 | Senior author's record not available — left out of this score |
| Institution's track record | — / 3 | No institution listed in OpenAlex — left out of this score |
| Multi-centre collaboration | — / 3 | Institutions not listed — left out of this score |
| Indexed in PubMed | 1 / 2 | Not in PubMed, but has a DOI |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Points | 20 / 58 | Scored on 11 of 20 parts. We have no data for the rest, so they are left out: 20 of the 58 points we could judge it on is 34 out of 100. |
| Total | 34 / 100 | — |
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APA 7th
Baddeley, A., & Hitch, G. J. (1994). Developments in the concept of working memory. Neuropsychology. https://doi.org/10.1037//0894-4105.8.4.485
Vancouver
Baddeley A, Hitch GJ. Developments in the concept of working memory. Neuropsychology. 1994. doi:10.1037//0894-4105.8.4.485.
BibTeX
@article{baddeley1994-5ad89dca,
author = {Baddeley, Alan and Hitch, Graham J.},
title = {{Developments in the concept of working memory}},
journal = {Neuropsychology},
year = {1994},
doi = {10.1037//0894-4105.8.4.485},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1037//0894-4105.8.4.485}
}