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Related Experiment Videos

Working memory and interference: a comment on Jenkins, Myerson, Hale, and Fry (1999).

K Oberauer1, H M Süss

  • 1Allgemeine Psychologie I, University of Potsdam, Germany. ko@rz.uni-potsdam.de

Psychonomic Bulletin & Review
|February 24, 2001
PubMed
Summary

Previous research suggested working memory models based on interference were incorrect. This study shows that finding was an artifact of measurement, and interference effects actually support working memory capacity theories.

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Area of Science:

  • Cognitive Psychology
  • Neuroscience
  • Psycholinguistics

Background:

  • Previous studies indicated that individuals with higher simple span performance experienced greater interference in complex span tasks.
  • This finding was interpreted as evidence against working memory models emphasizing interference or inhibition.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To re-evaluate the interpretation of complex span versus simple span relationships.
  • To investigate whether the observed effect was an artifact of measurement error, specifically regression to the mean.
  • To test the validity of interference/inhibition accounts of working memory.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of data from 133 young adults performing verbal and spatial span tasks.
  • Comparison of performance slopes using span scores versus sum scores.

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  • Correlation of interference effects with independent measures of working memory capacity.

    • Main Results:

    • The relationship slopes were significantly higher when using sum scores compared to span scores, indicating regression to the mean.
    • Interference effects in verbal span tasks were negatively correlated with working memory capacity.
    • The findings support, rather than refute, interference/inhibition models of working memory.

    Conclusions:

    • The original interpretation of Jenkins et al. (1999) is challenged by measurement artifacts.
    • Interference effects in complex span tasks are a valid indicator of working memory function.
    • Evidence supports the role of interference and inhibition in working memory capacity.