Chapter 5: Working Memory and Cognitive Control Flashcards
Working Memory
A brain system that provides temporary storage and manipulation of the information necessary for such complex cognitive tasks as language comprehension, learning, and reasoning
Who developed the most influential model of Working Memory?
Alan Baddeley
Working memory is essential for what?
everything you do with your mind
Storage
Maintains information after it is no longer available in perception
Storage is a form of what?
Internal attention
Working memory is where the mind _____ - performs operations on and transforms - information
manipulates
Working memory involves the ____ ______ and three subcomponents.
Central executive
What is the central executive?
The primary system for controlling attention and thinking - this is where information is manipulated - and it operates over information temporarily stored in two separate buffers
Phonological loop
stores and rehearses verbal and acoustic information
Visuospatial sketchpad
stores and manipulates visual information
Episodic buffer
A multimodal; it integrates information form multiple internal sources - such as the phonological loop, the visuospatial sketchpad, and long-term memory - into an episodic representation
A key feature of all these stores is their _____ ______
Limited capacity
The central executive is the ____ ____ for working memory
Command system
The brain recruits the _____ ______ to perform central executive functions such as dealing with response conflict, divided attention, task switching, working memory load, and problem solving
prefrontal cortex
What are the two mechanisms of phonological loop?
- Phonological store
- Articulatory rehearsal loop
Phonological store
Holds sound- or speech-based information for 1 to 2 seconds
Articulatory rehearsal loop
occurs through inner speech
Storage capacity is commonly tested with the ____-____ ____
digit-span task
Miller proposed that working memory capacity was ____ ____ or ____ ____ “_____”
seven plus or minus two “chunks”
Word-length effect
the working memory capacity for words or other phonological stimuli depends on the spoken duration or syllable length of the words
Acoustic similarity effect
the reduced capacity of working memory for items sillier in sound, compared with items that are dissimilar in sound; individuals find it harder to recall a series of similar words
Irrelevant speech effect
refers to the impairment of working memory by irrelevant spoken material; occurs even if the irrelevant spoken material involves nonsense words or words from a foreign language
Articulatory suppression
the disruption of working memory that occurs when uttering irrelevant sounds
Visual short-term memory
the function of the visuospatial sketchpad; retains visual information over time, especially when the perceptual image is no longer available, or has changed, most commonly whenever you move your eyes
______ allows you to individuate the objects, tracking them as separate entities based on location
Position
How are long-term memory and working memory related?
On one hand, they are independent of each other. However, long-term memory needs to be active or recruited during working memory tasks.
Cognitive Control
the ability to orchestrate thought and action in accordance with internal goals; makes our activities purposeful
Proactive control
applying cognitive control in anticipation of a challenge
Reactive control
applying cognitive control in reaction to a challenge
mental resource
refers to limitations in how much information the mind can process at any given time
Internal attention
refers to limitations in how much information can be prioritized within the mind
2 primary factors dictate whether effective multitasking is possible:
- Cognitive Load
- Cognitive Overlap
Cognitive Load
describes a task’s difficulty (load=low, task = easy to perform simultaneously with another task)
Cognitive Overlap
how much the demands of simultaneous tasks compete for the same mental
Cognitive Interference
occurs when load is high or when 2 tasks overlap and performance suffers as a result. With a lower load or less overlap. Less cognitive interference will occur, allowing for better multitasking
Automatic process
performing a task that requires minimal cognitive effort
Controlled process
performing a task that requires more cognitive involvement
Inhibition
the ability to suppress information, thoughts, or actions that may interfere with ongoing behavior; reduces distraction and helps people choose to act
stop-signal task
individuals respond as quickly as possible to a green circle target; in some trials, a red target appears soon after
Simon task (spatial interference task)
spatial incompatibility between the target location and the responding hand slows down response time
Flanker task
reveals 2 types of interference: perceptual and response interference
Response to interference is cognitive control, which performs 2 functions
- cognitive control processes must detect interference (conflict monitoring)
- Once detected, cognitive control mechanisms must reduce that interference (conflict resolution) either w/ inhibition or other behavioral adjustments
Task-switch off
refers to the speed and accuracy penalty that comes w/ having to switch tasks
Preparation effect
increasing the time between targets (trials) gives people more time to prepare and thus reduces the task-switch cost (never goes away; practice only reduces it)
Emotion regulation
the ability to manage one’s emotions is cognitive control function
rumination
an incessant focus on one’s negative thoughts; occurs when people find it difficult to disengage attention (inhibit) from negative thoughts about oneself, interpersonal relationship, or stressful events
Yerkes-Dodson Curve
describes how performance suffers as a result of anxiety, especially for difficult tasks - those requiring a high degree of cognitive control
Ego Depletion
occurs when one’s energy for mental activity is exhausted, impairing cognitive control and cognitive activities (impacted by food and blood glucose)
Attention Restoration Theory
being out in nature can restore cognitive fatigue
