LOOKING FOR THE VISUOSPATIAL SKETCHPAD IN WORKING-MEMORY

Baddeley (1990), in his working memory model, defines the visuo-spatia l sketchpad (VSSP) as the memory slave system which is responsible for storing visuo-spatial information and for creating and manipulating m ental images. The purpose of this paper is to survey and to criticize the principal works focusing on the study of the visuo-spatial short t erm memory. We will present firstly the experimental and neuropsycholo gical results which tend to prove the existence of an independent and autonomous VSSP. Then, we will present the hypothesis which concern th e structure and function of the VSSP. Finally, we will discuss the met hodological problems that can be met in the study of this slave system . In the conclusion, the inconsistent results reported in the differen t studies focusing on VSSP will be underlined and we will suggest, for future research, to adopt an original approach which could help the r esearchers to find a temporary solution to this contradiction.