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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.

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...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 15, 2026

Event-related Potentials During Target-response Tasks to Study Cognitive Processes of Upper Limb Use in Children with Unilateral Cerebral Palsy

Event-related Potentials During Target-response Tasks to Study Cognitive Processes of Upper Limb Use in Children with Unilateral Cerebral Palsy

Published on: January 11, 2016

Developmental changes in visuo-spatial working memory in normally developing children: event-related potentials

Ivan Myatchin¹, Lieven Lagae

¹Department of Development and Regeneration, Section Paediatric Neurology, University Hospitals KU Leuven, Belgium.

Brain & Development

|January 1, 2013

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Childhood working memory (WM) processing shows clear developmental changes at both behavioral and electrophysiological levels. Event-related potentials reveal distinct developmental trajectories for different WM components, indicating maturation of the visual WM network.

Keywords:

Cortical activity Development ERPs Working memory

More Related Videos

How to Obtain Reliable Visual Event-related Potentials in Newborns

How to Obtain Reliable Visual Event-related Potentials in Newborns

Published on: October 24, 2019

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 15, 2026

Event-related Potentials During Target-response Tasks to Study Cognitive Processes of Upper Limb Use in Children with Unilateral Cerebral Palsy

Event-related Potentials During Target-response Tasks to Study Cognitive Processes of Upper Limb Use in Children with Unilateral Cerebral Palsy

Published on: January 11, 2016

How to Obtain Reliable Visual Event-related Potentials in Newborns

How to Obtain Reliable Visual Event-related Potentials in Newborns

Published on: October 24, 2019

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Developmental Psychology
Cognitive Science

Background:

Working memory (WM) is crucial for cognitive development.
The fronto-parietal network's role in WM is established, but developmental changes in cortical activity are less understood.
Evaluating the maturation of the visual WM network at the electrophysiological level in children is essential.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate age-related changes in the electrophysiological activity of the visual working memory (WM) network in normally developing children.
To analyze behavioral and event-related potential (ERP) parameters to understand WM maturation.
To identify developmental trajectories of different WM components.

Main Methods:

Utilized multichannel (31) event-related potentials (ERPs) during visuo-spatial backmatching tasks (one-back and two-back).
Assessed 69 typically developing children aged 6-16 years.
Analyzed age-related changes in behavioral metrics (errors, reaction times) and ERP parameters (peak amplitudes, latencies).

Main Results:

Behaviorally, performance improved with age, showing fewer errors and faster reaction times.
Electrophysiologically, age-related changes were observed in ERP peak latencies and amplitudes, reflecting developmental shifts in processing speed and intensity.
Specific ERP components exhibited distinct developmental dynamics, with some early peaks decreasing in amplitude and shortening in latency, and later peaks showing right-hemisphere lateralization in older children.

Conclusions:

Significant age-related dynamics in working memory processing are evident at both behavioral and electrophysiological levels.
Event-related potentials demonstrate that different working memory components follow unique developmental trajectories.
The fronto-parietal visual WM network can be functionally active before full maturation of all its components.