Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 16, 2026
10:38
A Cognitive Paradigm to Investigate Interference in Working Memory by Distractions and Interruptions
Published on: July 16, 2015
Increasing contextual demand modulates anterior and lateral prefrontal brain regions associated with proactive
Robert Christian Wolf1, Henrik Walter, Nenad Vasic
1Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy III, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany. christian.wolf@uni-ulm.de
The International Journal of Neuroscience
|February 5, 2010
Summary
This study shows that increasing context processing reduces proactive interference (PI) during working memory retrieval. Brain imaging revealed that specific prefrontal cortex areas, including the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, are involved in resolving this interference.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Neuroimaging
- Psychology
Background:
- Proactive interference (PI) poses a challenge to working memory, particularly during retrieval.
- Understanding the neural mechanisms underlying PI is crucial for cognitive function research.
- Context processing may play a role in mitigating PI effects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how increased context processing influences cerebral activation during intratrial PI in working memory retrieval.
- To identify specific brain regions involved in resolving PI under varying cognitive loads.
- To explore the relationship between individual susceptibility to PI and prefrontal cortex activation.
Main Methods:
- Event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was employed.
- A parametric, modified item-recognition paradigm with three load levels was utilized.
- Cerebral activation patterns were analyzed in relation to interference and context processing.
Main Results:
- Left BA 45 showed activation during interference trials across all cognitive loads.
- Left lateralized activation of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC, BA 9/46) and frontopolar cortex (FPC, BA 10) increased with contextual load.
- Low susceptibility to PI correlated with activation in the left DLPFC, suggesting enhanced executive control.
Conclusions:
- Intratrial PI effects can be modulated by enhancing context processing of stimuli.
- Resolving PI under increasing context load engages multiple prefrontal regions, including DLPFC and FPC.
- Reduced susceptibility to PI may be linked to heightened executive control mediated by the DLPFC.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:14Role of Cerebellum and Prefrontal Cortex in Memory
The cerebellum, while traditionally associated with motor control, also plays a crucial role in memory, particularly in procedural memory, which involves learning motor tasks that become automatic through repetition. For example, studies have shown that when the cerebellum is damaged, individuals or animals lose the ability to learn conditioned motor responses, such as the conditioned eye-blink response in classical conditioning experiments with rabbits. This study demonstrates the cerebellum's...
01:28Automatic Processing and Automatic Social Behavior
Automatic processing refers to the cognitive operations that occur without conscious intent or awareness, playing a fundamental role in shaping social cognition and behavior. These processes enable individuals to navigate complex social environments efficiently by relying on mental shortcuts and pre-existing knowledge structures known as schemas. One of the most influential mechanisms underlying automatic processing is priming, which subtly activates mental representations through exposure to...
01:16Interference and Decay
Forgetting is a complex cognitive phenomenon influenced by several factors, among which interference and decay are particularly prominent. These processes explain why individuals often struggle to retrieve specific information from memory, leading to lapses in recall that can be observed in everyday situations.
Interference occurs when competing memories hinder the retrieval of particular information. It can be classified into two types: proactive and retroactive interference. Proactive...
Interference occurs when competing memories hinder the retrieval of particular information. It can be classified into two types: proactive and retroactive interference. Proactive...
01:24Working Memory
Working memory refers to a combination of components, including short-term memory and attention, that allow an individual to hold information temporarily as we perform cognitive tasks. It is an essential cognitive function that enables the execution of complex tasks such as problem-solving, comprehension, and reasoning. Unlike short-term memory, which simply involves the storage of information for a brief period, working memory involves the active manipulation and processing of this information.
01:19High-Level and Low-Level Awareness
Controlled processes in human consciousness represent high-alert mental states where individuals deliberately focus their attention on achieving specific goals. Controlled processes can be seen in situations like mastering new technology, where a person might become so absorbed that they ignore surrounding distractions. Such processes involve selective attention, requiring one to concentrate on particular elements of experience while disregarding others. These are governed by executive...
01:15Causes of Social Behavior II: Cognitive Processes
Cognitive processes affect social behavior by guiding how individuals perceive, interpret, and respond to social stimuli. These mental processes enable individuals to assess others' behaviors, attribute causes to their actions, and form expectations based on past experiences.Causes of Behavior and Social JudgmentsIndividuals determine the causes of others' behaviors by distinguishing between personal traits and external circumstances. For example, if a friend frequently arrives late, an...