Working Memory

Question 1

What is working memory?

Answer 1

The ability to manipulate memory content, it’s short-term in nature.

Question 2

Who is working memory different to short-term memory?

Answer 2

Short-term memory refers more specifically to the storage.

Question 3

What is working memory important for?

Answer 3

Language comprehension, planning and problem solving.

Question 4

Name some working memory tests which assess the following:

1. Short-term memory capacity
2. Short-term memory capacity + manipulation
3. Short-term memory maintenance + monitoring + updating

Answer 4

1. a. Digit span forward
2. b. Spatial span forward (corsi block test)
3. a. Digit span backward
4. b. Spatial span backward (corsi block test)
5. N-back test

Question 5

Is there an age difference when it comes to forward digit span test?

Answer 5

No, there was no significant evidence that age‐related brain deterioration adversely affects forward digit span performance.

Question 6

Is there an age difference when it comes to backward digit span test?

Answer 6

When reporting the digits in reverse order, older adults did not perform as well as young adults.
Recall that backward span performance reflects STM capacity and manipulation of that information (thus involving working memory).
Thus, with age‐related brain deterioration, short‐term memory capacity seems to be intact but not the ability to manipulate that information.

Question 7

Why are N-back tests used to assess working memory?

Answer 7

N‐back tests are frequently used to assess WM because they place a relatively low demand on STM storage and thus performance reflects more specifically working memory capabilities.

Question 8

What does fMRI data of healthy adults engaged in the N-back task tell us?

Answer 8

Engagement in the N‐back task elicited bilateral activation of parietal cortex and frontal cortex.
These data indicate prefrontal involvement in WM.

Question 9

Where is the prefrontal cortex?

Answer 9

In the frontal lobe, anterior to motor regions.

Question 10

What were the three prefrontal cortex patient groups engaged in the n-back task?

Answer 10

• Ventromedial PFC
• Dorsolateral PFC
• Dorsal + Ventral PFC

Question 11

What was the research relating to prefrontal patients and the n-back task? What was found?

Answer 11

There was an object N-back task along with a spatial N-back task.
- Ventromedial PFC patients = No impairment
Dorsolateral PFC patients = No impairment
Dorsal + Ventral PFC = Impaired performance (especially 2‐back)… more of the frontal lobe is damaged.