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.

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...

Language and Cognition

Language and Cognition

Language serves as a bridge between ideas and communication, influencing how individuals perceive and interact with the world. Psychologists have long debated whether language shapes thought or vice versa. This discussion gained grip with Edward Sapir and Benjamin Lee Whorf in the 1940s, who proposed that language determines thought, a concept known as linguistic determinism. They suggested that the vocabulary and structure of a language influence how its speakers think and perceive reality.

Learning Disabilities

Learning Disabilities

Learning disabilities are cognitive disorders caused by neurological impairments that affect cognitive functions like language and reading, without indicating overall intellectual or developmental challenges. These disabilities differ from global intellectual or developmental disabilities as they are limited to distinct cognitive functions. Common learning disabilities include dysgraphia, dyslexia, and dyscalculia, each of which impacts unique aspects of learning.
Dyslexia
Dyslexia is a...

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by

Same author

Comprehensive care lowers multimorbidity, impairment, disability and absenteeism in people with TB.

IJTLD open·2026

Same author

Assessing for comorbidities, determinants and disability during TB treatment.

IJTLD open·2024

Same author

TB preventive treatment among pregnant women with HIV.

The international journal of tuberculosis and lung disease : the official journal of the International Union against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease·2022

Same author

Executive function and intellectual disability: innovations, methods and treatment.

Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDR·2021

Same author

Developmental trajectories of spatial-sequential and spatial-simultaneous working memory in Down syndrome.

Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDR·2021

Same author

Executive functions and adaptive behaviour in individuals with Down syndrome.

Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDR·2021

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 31, 2026

Dual-Task Stroop Paradigm for Detecting Cognitive Deficits in High-Functioning Stroke Patients

Dual-Task Stroop Paradigm for Detecting Cognitive Deficits in High-Functioning Stroke Patients

Published on: December 16, 2022

Working memory in Down syndrome: is there a dual task deficit?

S Lanfranchi¹, A Baddeley, S Gathercole

¹Department of Developmental and Socialization Psychology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy. silvia.lanfranchi@unipd.it

Journal of Intellectual Disability Research : JIDR

|July 6, 2011

Summary

Individuals with Down syndrome (DS) show working memory deficits, particularly in verbal tasks and dual-task conditions. This suggests a central executive impairment in DS.

More Related Videos

Revised and Neuroimaging-Compatible Versions of the Dual Task Screen

Revised and Neuroimaging-Compatible Versions of the Dual Task Screen

Published on: October 5, 2020

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 31, 2026

Dual-Task Stroop Paradigm for Detecting Cognitive Deficits in High-Functioning Stroke Patients

Dual-Task Stroop Paradigm for Detecting Cognitive Deficits in High-Functioning Stroke Patients

Published on: December 16, 2022

Revised and Neuroimaging-Compatible Versions of the Dual Task Screen

Revised and Neuroimaging-Compatible Versions of the Dual Task Screen

Published on: October 5, 2020

Area of Science:

Cognitive Psychology
Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Background:

Individuals with Down syndrome (DS) exhibit challenges in dual-task performance compared to controls.
Previous research indicates deficits in both verbal and visuospatial dual tasks.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the dual-task deficit in working memory within individuals with Down syndrome.
To further explore the nature of working memory impairments in DS.

Main Methods:

A study involving 45 individuals with DS and 45 typically developing children matched for verbal mental age.
Utilized verbal and visuospatial working memory tasks under single-task and dual-task conditions (same and cross-modality).

Main Results:

Individuals with DS demonstrated impairments in verbal working memory tasks.
A significant further impairment was observed in all dual-task conditions for individuals with DS.

Conclusions:

The findings support a central executive impairment in individuals with Down syndrome.
Working memory deficits in DS are particularly evident in verbal processing and when managing multiple tasks.