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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 10, 2026

Brain Imaging Investigation of the Impairing Effect of Emotion on Cognition

Brain Imaging Investigation of the Impairing Effect of Emotion on Cognition

Published on: February 1, 2012

The emotional startle effect is disrupted by a concurrent working memory task.

Rosemary King¹, Alexandre Schaefer¹

¹Institute of Psychological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom.

Psychophysiology

|July 20, 2010

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Cognitive load from working memory tasks reduces emotional processing, even when focusing on emotional images. This impacts the startle eyeblink reflex, an index of emotional responses.

Keywords:

Attention Cognitive control Emotion Startle Working memory

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Last Updated: Jun 10, 2026

Brain Imaging Investigation of the Impairing Effect of Emotion on Cognition

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Area of Science:

Cognitive Neuroscience
Psychology

Background:

Working memory (WM) is crucial for cognitive regulation of emotions.
The influence of WM on emotional processing remains under-explored.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate if a concurrent working memory task modulates the emotional startle eyeblink reflex.
To understand how cognitive load affects emotional processing.

Main Methods:

Two experiments were conducted using emotionally negative and neutral pictures.
Participants were assigned to either a cognitive load (CL) condition (maintaining information in WM) or a no load (NL) control condition.
The startle eyeblink reflex was measured as an index of emotional processing.

Main Results:

A significant reduction in the emotional modulation of the startle eyeblink reflex was observed in the CL condition compared to the NL condition.
This effect occurred regardless of whether participants were directing visual focus on emotional stimuli.

Conclusions:

Concurrent working memory tasks disrupt emotional processing.
Cognitive load impairs the ability to process emotional information, even when attention is directed towards it.