Final answer:
The semantic network model asserts that memory nodes are ideas or concepts that are linked, facilitating recall through spreading activation, whereas the physical model views memory nodes as not containing distinct informational units and emphasizes the physical aspects of memory storage.
Step-by-step explanation:
The semantic network model asserts that a node in a memory network consists of an idea, a word, or a concept. This model focuses on how concepts are organized within our minds and how activation of one concept can lead to the partial activation of related concepts, thereby facilitating memory recall through a process called spreading activation. In contrast to this model, the physical model argues that a node is physical in nature and does not contain individual units of information. Such a model would consider memory as a physical process of information storage and retrieval, potentially residing in synaptic or dendritic structures of the brain.
Spreading activation is integral in the semantic network model. As described by psychologists Collins & Loftus, this principle allows for easier recall of associated concepts once a related node is activated. However, the working memory model by Baddeley and Hitch proposes a more dynamic understanding of short-term memory with various components like the visuospatial sketchpad, episodic buffer, and phonological loop overseen by a central executive, which is crucial for the processing and transfer of information to long-term memory.