working memory Flashcards
is human working memory good or bad
horrid so ass
what is the link between short term memory, working memory, and long term memory
encoding goes into short term memory, attention into working memory, becomes learnt, into long term memory/ storage, into retrieval
what is short term memory
sensory processing
what is working memory
application of attention to short term memory
holding a series of facts or actions for a few min in order to complete a task
limited capacity
what is long term memory
turning short/ working memory into permanent
huge capacity
what is in charge of working memory
dorsolateral prefrontal cortex
but other regions too
what is dorsolateral prefrontal cortex brodmann areas
brodmann areas 9 and 46
what is the role of dorsolateral prefrontal cortex
monitoring and manipulation of working memory content
top down regulation of attention
what is the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex susceptible to
traumatic brain injury
TBI
what type of reasoning occurs in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex
abstract reasoning
what does the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex project to and why
hippocampus
to encode into long term memory
recalling memory to replay
how do we test cognitive function - 3
wechsler memory scale
wechsler adult intelligence scale
cambridge neuropsychological test automated battery
(all include multiple tasks, measuring multiple cog functions inc working memory)
features of cognitive tests - 4
standardised for comparison
reliable
valid?
difficult to map to anatomy and neuro
prefrontal cortex function
where “we” are - fundamental role in learning, gets tired and overwhelmed
e.g. when attempting to put shit into our working memory, brain gets overwhelmed
what do we test of working memory - 3
maintenance of working memory
monitoring of working memory
manipulation of working memory
what is maintenance of working memory
can we hold content in dasolateral prefrontal cortex
what is monitoring of working memory
attending to info after taking a break
how do we test monitoring of working memory
n-back task
how do we test maintenance of working memory - 2
digital span forward task
spatial span forward
what is manipulation of working memory
working with info, move it around and rearrange it while keeping accurate
how do we test manipulation of working memory
letter-number sequencing task
what is the digit span forward task
tests maintenance
tests verbal/auditory maintenance
administrator recites series of numbers
1 per second in monotone voice
subject asked to repeat those numbers
length of series inc with each trial
task ends when ppt fails twice at a specific length
length = score
what is the spatial span forward task
maintenance
select flashing squares in same sequence when sequence completes
test ends when fails twice
why do we measure verbal and spatial maintenance
laterality of dasolateral prefrontal cortex - left is verbal working memory
right is spatial working memory
what signals our hemisphere dominance
right handed or left handedness
damage to lang area on right hand side - not dominant
understading and formation of language
damage to lang area on left hand side - dominant
emotional tone, prosody - sound monotone
damage to math area on left hand side - dominant
sequential analytical skills
damage to math area on right hand side - non dominant
line up numbers correctly on page
damage to navigation area on left hand side - dominant
following written directions in a sequence
damage to navigation area on right hand side - non dominant
overall spatial navigation
damage to emotion area on right hand side - non dominant
neg emotions maayybbeee
damage to emotions area on left hand side - dominant
pos emotions mayyybeee
damage to attention area on left hand side - dominant
focus attention and sequential directions
damage to attention area on right hand side - non dominant
vigilance, attending
damage to music area on left hand side - dominant
sequential analytical skills, rhythm
damage to music area on right hand side - non dominant
produce and respond to music
what is the monitoring test for working memory
n back task
what is the n back task
series of digits presenting, one at a time
answer yes if a digit appeared n back - say yes when digit is repeated the number of times whatever n is
e.g. if n =4
a b j l k d b - b = yes, n back
the higher the n , the harder the task
can use letters to test verbal or auditory
sound for auditory
shapes for spatial
smells for olfactory
how is manifulation working memory tested
letter number sequencing task
what is the letter number sequencing task
administrator reads out string of letters and words and numbers
ppts has to break up letters and numbers and words and then say numbers in ascending order and then alphabets in ascending number
e.g. K3O2
2,3,K,O
what is adhd
attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
features of ADHD
restlessness
impulsivenes
difficulty concentrating
multiple subtypes
problems with response inhibition - caused by orrr causes working problems?
challenges with working memory - more often visiospacial, improves with age, improved by methylphenidate
neurobiology poorly understood
subtypes of ADHD - 3
hyperactive
compulsive
combined
diff presentations in children vs adult
what is response inhibition
the ability to resist internal or external interferences to achieve goal directed behaviours
can u train working memory
yea short term but nah
specifically u can train chunks
e.g. phone numbers
area codes is a chunk, rest of number tuff
schema
learned content can be retrived as one chunk
chunk = schema
simple example of how expertise develops
what is neural efficiency
learning results in reduced brain activity of certain thing being learnt
esp in working memory and attention areas
as less processing power needed to achieve same cognitive tasks
differences in IQ may reflect baseline differences in neural effiency
