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Working Memory

Working 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.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 13, 2026

Investigating the Effects of Antipsychotics and Schizotypy on the N400 Using Event-Related Potentials and Semantic Categorization

Investigating the Effects of Antipsychotics and Schizotypy on the N400 Using Event-Related Potentials and Semantic Categorization

Published on: November 19, 2014

Temporal characteristics of working memory for spatial relations: an ERP study.

Ineke J M van der Ham¹, Jan W van Strien, Anna Oleksiak

¹Helmholtz Institute, Experimental Psychology, Utrecht University, The Netherlands. c.j.m.vanderham@uu.nl

International Journal of Psychophysiology : Official Journal of the International Organization of Psychophysiology

|May 14, 2010

Summary

This study reveals distinct brain lateralization for spatial working memory. Coordinate spatial processing shows a right hemisphere advantage, while categorical processing lacks clear lateralization.

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Last Updated: Jun 13, 2026

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Published on: July 29, 2025

Area of Science:

Cognitive Neuroscience
Neuropsychology

Background:

Spatial relations are processed either categorically (labels) or coordinately (metric measures).
Hemispheric lateralization is suggested, with left for categorical and right for coordinate processing.
Understanding the temporal dynamics of spatial working memory is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the lateralization of categorical and coordinate spatial working memory.
To examine the temporal stages of spatial working memory: encoding, memorization, and retrieval.
To analyze electroencephalography (EEG) and behavioral data for hemispheric differences.

Main Methods:

Utilized a visual half-field match-to-sample design with event-related potentials (ERPs).
Manipulated retention intervals (500 ms, 2000 ms, 5000 ms) to probe different working memory stages.
Compared behavioral responses and EEG data across visual fields and retention intervals.

Main Results:

Behavioral data showed an interaction of instruction and visual field at the 2000 ms interval.
EEG data revealed a general right hemisphere effect for spatial working memory.
Categorical and coordinate processing differentiated during encoding (P300 complex), with a right hemisphere advantage for coordinate processing.

Conclusions:

Spatial working memory exhibits right hemisphere dominance.
Qualitative differences exist between categorical and coordinate spatial processing, evident early in the encoding stage.
Hemispheric specialization for spatial representation types is supported.