Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

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.
High-Level and Low-Level Awareness01:19

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 Approach01:30

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...
Subconsciousness and No Awareness01:15

Subconsciousness and No Awareness

The concept of subconscious awareness refers to the processing of information below the level of conscious thought, which significantly influences both behaviors and decisions. It is also known as waking subconscious awareness. This complex level of cognition operates without the direct awareness of the individual, facilitating rapid and simultaneous handling of multiple information streams.
An illustrative example of subconscious processing is its role in problem-solving. Often, individuals...

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Modeled Long-Term Effects of Psilocybin on Dynamic Activity and Effective Connectivity of Fronto-Striatal-Thalamic Circuits.

Human brain mapping·2026
Same author

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

Behavior research methods·2026
Same author

Mood and Age Predict Cognitive Complaints in Memory Clinic Patients: A Machine-Learning and Linear Modeling Approach.

European journal of neurology·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 journal

Geographical psychology: Spatial variation in psychological phenomena and their consequences.

Trends in cognitive sciences·2026
Same journal

Multi-brain neurofeedback: what are we training for?

Trends in cognitive sciences·2026
Same journal

The developing vocal self.

Trends in cognitive sciences·2026
Same journal

Searching beyond decrements: Attentional guidance across the adult lifespan.

Trends in cognitive sciences·2026
Same journal

Looking into working memory through micro eye movements.

Trends in cognitive sciences·2026
Same journal

Timescapes of non-human experience.

Trends in cognitive sciences·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 26, 2026

Measurement of Neurophysiological Signals of Ignoring and Attending Processes in Attention Control
09:37

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

Published on: July 5, 2015

Top-down modulation: bridging selective attention and working memory.

Adam Gazzaley1, Anna C Nobre

  • 1Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA. adam.gazzaley@ucsf.edu

Trends in Cognitive Sciences
|January 3, 2012
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Selective attention, which helps focus cognitive resources, significantly impacts working memory (WM) performance. Both attention and WM share top-down modulation as a common neural mechanism, involving sensory and control brain regions.

More Related Videos

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

A Dual Task Procedure Combined with Rapid Serial Visual Presentation to Test Attentional Blink for Nontargets
08:45

A Dual Task Procedure Combined with Rapid Serial Visual Presentation to Test Attentional Blink for Nontargets

Published on: December 5, 2014

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 26, 2026

Measurement of Neurophysiological Signals of Ignoring and Attending Processes in Attention Control
09:37

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

Published on: July 5, 2015

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

A Dual Task Procedure Combined with Rapid Serial Visual Presentation to Test Attentional Blink for Nontargets
08:45

A Dual Task Procedure Combined with Rapid Serial Visual Presentation to Test Attentional Blink for Nontargets

Published on: December 5, 2014

Area of Science:

  • Cognitive Neuroscience
  • Neuropsychology

Background:

  • Selective attention and working memory (WM) are crucial cognitive functions.
  • These functions are increasingly understood as overlapping constructs.
  • Top-down modulation is a key neural mechanism influencing both.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review neurophysiological evidence on the common neural mechanisms of attention and WM.
  • To highlight the role of top-down modulation in these cognitive operations.

Main Methods:

  • Review of recent human neurophysiological studies.
  • Analysis of brain activity patterns during attention and WM tasks.

Main Results:

  • Top-down modulation is a shared neural mechanism for selective attention and WM.
  • This involves modulation in sensory cortices and prefrontal/parietal control regions.
  • Top-down signals are active throughout various stages of WM tasks (expectation, encoding, maintenance, retrieval).

Conclusions:

  • Selective attention and working memory share common neural underpinnings, primarily top-down modulation.
  • This mechanism supports goal-directed cognitive control across different task phases.
  • Further research can elucidate the precise interplay between attention and WM.