Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

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.

High-Level and Low-Level Awareness

High-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...

Information Processing Approach

Information Processing Approach

The information-processing theory of cognitive development centers on fundamental mental processes, including attention, memory, and problem-solving skills. Researchers in this field examine how cognitive abilities, such as working memory, evolve and influence children's overall development. Studies indicate that children with stronger working memory tend to excel in reading comprehension, math, and problem-solving compared to peers with less efficient memory skills. Low working memory is also...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Differences in dynamic motor selection in stuttering.

Current biology : CB·2026

Same author

Running virtual reality experiments online: A brief introduction and tutorial.

Behavior research methods·2026

Same author

Effects of Age on Resting-State Cortical Networks.

Human brain mapping·2026

Same author

Neural Signatures of Flexible Temporal Orienting under Spatial and Motor Uncertainty.

Journal of cognitive neuroscience·2026

Same author

Biomarkers.

Alzheimer's & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association·2025

Same author

Divergence of cortical neurophysiology across different neurodegenerative disorders compared to healthy ageing.

Progress in neurobiology·2025

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 3, 2026

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

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

Published on: July 16, 2015

Modulation of working-memory maintenance by directed attention.

Jöran Lepsien¹, Ian Thornton, Anna C Nobre

¹Brain & Cognition Laboratory, Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, United Kingdom. lepsien@cbs.mpg.de

Neuropsychologia

|March 23, 2011

Summary

Directed attention dynamically modulates working memory (WM) content. Orienting attention to specific stimulus categories, like faces or scenes, enhances their neural representation in the brain, aiding future behavior.

More Related Videos

Measurement of Neurophysiological Signals of Ignoring and Attending Processes in Attention Control

Measurement of Neurophysiological Signals of Ignoring and Attending Processes in Attention Control

Published on: July 5, 2015

Reducing State Anxiety Using Working Memory Maintenance

Reducing State Anxiety Using Working Memory Maintenance

Published on: July 19, 2017

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 3, 2026

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

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

Published on: July 16, 2015

Measurement of Neurophysiological Signals of Ignoring and Attending Processes in Attention Control

Measurement of Neurophysiological Signals of Ignoring and Attending Processes in Attention Control

Published on: July 5, 2015

Reducing State Anxiety Using Working Memory Maintenance

Reducing State Anxiety Using Working Memory Maintenance

Published on: July 19, 2017

Area of Science:

Cognitive Neuroscience
Neuroimaging

Background:

Working memory (WM) models often link WM capacity to attention.
Attention can be voluntarily directed towards items within WM, potentially influencing their maintenance.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate how directing attention to a specific stimulus category affects neural representations during WM maintenance.
To examine the role of extrastriate and associative brain regions in attention-modulated WM.

Main Methods:

Event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was employed.
Participants maintained varying numbers of faces and scenes in WM.
Retro-cues indicated the relevant stimulus category for a subsequent test.

Main Results:

Retro-cues modulated activity in category-selective extrastriate areas (fusiform and parahippocampal gyri) in a categorical manner.
Activity in these areas increased for the cued category, independent of WM load.
Modulation was also observed in associative parietal and prefrontal cortices, correlating with the number of maintained items.

Conclusions:

Attention flexibly modulates WM representations in a goal-directed manner.
Extrastriate areas show category-specific maintenance modulation.
Associative cortices play a role in flexible WM maintenance and guiding behavior.