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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.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 14, 2026

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

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

Published on: December 5, 2014

Working memory effects in speeded RSVP tasks.

Beatriz Gil-Gómez de Liaño¹, Mary C Potter, Carmen Rodríguez

¹Departamento de Psicología Social y Metodología, Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, C/Ivan Pavlov, 6, 28049, Madrid, Spain, bgil.gomezdelianno@uam.es.

Psychological Research

|February 12, 2013

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Memory contents automatically capture attention, impacting task performance. Irrelevant memory information slows processing, while relevant information speeds it up in visual tasks.

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Last Updated: May 14, 2026

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

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Published on: December 5, 2014

Using Rapid Serial Visual Presentation to Measure Set-Specific Capture, a Consequence of Distraction While Multitasking

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Published on: August 29, 2018

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

Area of Science:

Cognitive Psychology
Human Attention Studies
Working Memory Research

Background:

Previous research on memory load and visual task performance yielded inconsistent results.
Understanding the interplay between working memory and attentional capture is crucial for explaining these discrepancies.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the influence of memory contents and memory load on performance in rapid serial visual presentation (RSVP) speeded tasks.
To reconcile inconsistent findings in prior research by examining attentional capture by memory information.

Main Methods:

Employed dual-task paradigms with varying memory loads (one or four items) and RSVP tasks (one or two targets).
Conducted single-task experiments focusing on target detection and memory-match identification under different memory loads.
Manipulated the relevance of working memory contents to the RSVP task.

Main Results:

A relationship between working memory content and RSVP targets impaired target identification.
Match detection was faster than non-match detection, particularly with greater temporal separation between RSVP targets.
Memory contents demonstrated an automatic attentional capture effect.

Conclusions:

Memory contents automatically capture attention, leading to processing interference when irrelevant to the task.
Task-relevant memory information can enhance processing speed.
The findings clarify the dual role of memory contents in modulating attentional processes during visual perception tasks.