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Related Concept Videos

Working Memory01:24

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.
Chunking and Rehearsal in Sensory Memory01:22

Chunking and Rehearsal in Sensory Memory

Improving short-term memory can be achieved through techniques like chunking and rehearsal. Chunking involves organizing information into larger, more manageable units. This technique is particularly useful for information that exceeds the typical memory span of between five and nine items. For instance, logging into an online account with a password like "ta89vq0179gz" involves grouping letters and numbers into three chunks—ta89, vq01, and 79gz. It makes large amounts of information more...
Understanding Memory01:19

Understanding Memory

Memory is the retention of information or experiences over time, facilitated through three main processes: encoding, storage, and retrieval. Encoding is the process of inputting information into the memory system. For instance, when listening to a lecture, watching a play, reading a book, or having a conversation, the brain is actively encoding information. This initial stage involves transforming sensory input into a form that can be processed and stored by the brain. Various factors, such as...
Chunking01:12

Chunking

Chunking is a powerful cognitive technique that improves short-term memory retention by organizing information into smaller, more manageable units. The brain, limited by working memory capacity, can more easily process and store information when it is divided into "chunks" rather than presented as discrete, unrelated elements. Chunking is especially useful when dealing with large amounts of information, such as numerical sequences, words, or complex ideas.
The principle behind chunking is...
Storage01:23

Storage

A schema is a mental framework that helps individuals organize and interpret information. Schemata, formed from previous experiences, influence how we process new information: how we encode it, the inferences we make, and how we retrieve it. For instance, a schema for what a typical classroom looks like might include desks, a teacher's desk, a whiteboard, and students in such an environment. This expectation helps us quickly understand and navigate new classrooms without needing to analyze each...
Long-Term Memory01:18

Long-Term Memory

Long-term memory is a relatively permanent type of memory, capable of storing vast amounts of information over extended periods. Its storage capacity is generally considered unlimited.
Long-term memory can be categorized into two primary types: explicit and implicit memory. Explicit memory, also known as declarative memory, involves the conscious recollection of information that we deliberately try to remember, recall, and articulate. This type of memory encompasses specific facts, events, and...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 10, 2026

Assessing Working Memory in Children: The Comprehensive Assessment Battery for Children – Working Memory (CABC-WM)
09:05

Assessing Working Memory in Children: The Comprehensive Assessment Battery for Children – Working Memory (CABC-WM)

Published on: June 12, 2017

Domain-general mechanisms of complex working memory span.

Jason M Chein1, Adam B Moore, Andrew R A Conway

  • 1Temple University, Department of Psychology, Philadelphia PA 19122, USA. jchein@temple.edu

Neuroimage
|August 10, 2010
PubMed
Summary

This study used fMRI to reveal brain regions supporting complex working memory. Increased activity in prefrontal, cingulate, and parietal areas was observed during working memory tasks.

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Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 10, 2026

Assessing Working Memory in Children: The Comprehensive Assessment Battery for Children – Working Memory (CABC-WM)
09:05

Assessing Working Memory in Children: The Comprehensive Assessment Battery for Children – Working Memory (CABC-WM)

Published on: June 12, 2017

Working Memory Training for Older Participants: A Control Group Training Regimen and Initial Intellectual Functioning Assessment
07:01

Working Memory Training for Older Participants: A Control Group Training Regimen and Initial Intellectual Functioning Assessment

Published on: September 20, 2020

A Cognitive Paradigm to Investigate Interference in Working Memory by Distractions and Interruptions
10:38

A Cognitive Paradigm to Investigate Interference in Working Memory by Distractions and Interruptions

Published on: July 16, 2015

Area of Science:

  • Cognitive Neuroscience
  • Neuroimaging

Background:

  • Working memory is crucial for cognitive performance.
  • Understanding the neural basis of working memory is essential.
  • Domain-general mechanisms underlying working memory remain debated.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify brain regions contributing to working memory performance across domains.
  • To investigate the neural correlates of verbal and spatial working memory.
  • To bridge psychometric and neuroimaging approaches to working memory.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized a novel functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) complex working memory span paradigm.
  • Assessed both verbal and spatial versions of the working memory task.
  • Analyzed brain activity during encoding, maintenance, coordination, and recall phases.

Main Results:

  • Complex working memory span performance correlated with increased activity in lateral prefrontal, anterior cingulate, and parietal cortices.
  • Overlapping activity in anterior prefrontal and medial temporal lobe regions was linked to both verbal and spatial recall.
  • Findings support domain-general contributions to working memory executive functions.

Conclusions:

  • The study elucidates executive mechanisms of working memory.
  • It clarifies the relationship between short-term and working memory in verbal and spatial domains.
  • Provides insights into the interplay of short-term and long-term memory in working memory capacity.
  • Establishes a link between psychometric and neuroimaging findings in working memory research.