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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.
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...
Higher Mental Functions of Brain: Learning and Memory01:26

Higher Mental Functions of Brain: Learning and Memory

Memory is one of the most vital higher mental functions of the brain. Memory is closely related to learning because it enables us to retain information and experiences from our past to use them in our present life. It also helps us to remember facts, events, and skills, such as riding a bike or swimming. There are two types of memory — declarative memory, which involves memorizing facts or events, and procedural memory, which enables us to remember how to do something like writing or playing an...
Role of Cerebellum and Prefrontal Cortex in Memory01:14

Role of Cerebellum and Prefrontal Cortex in Memory

The cerebellum, while traditionally associated with motor control, also plays a crucial role in memory, particularly in procedural memory, which involves learning motor tasks that become automatic through repetition. For example, studies have shown that when the cerebellum is damaged, individuals or animals lose the ability to learn conditioned motor responses, such as the conditioned eye-blink response in classical conditioning experiments with rabbits. This study demonstrates the cerebellum's...
Evolutionary Psychology01:20

Evolutionary Psychology

Evolutionary psychology explores the origins of human behavior and mental processes by framing them within the context of natural selection, a theory famously propounded by Charles Darwin. This field asserts that many behaviors common across human societies — ranging from instinctive fear reactions to complex social interactions — arose as evolutionary adaptations. These adaptations enhanced the survival and reproductive success of our ancestors, thereby becoming embedded in the human psyche...
Understanding Memory01:19

Understanding Memory

Memory is the retention of information or experiences over time, facilitated through three main processes: encoding, storage, and retrieval. Encoding is the process of inputting information into the memory system. For instance, when listening to a lecture, watching a play, reading a book, or having a conversation, the brain is actively encoding information. This initial stage involves transforming sensory input into a form that can be processed and stored by the brain. Various factors, such as...

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Updated: May 10, 2026

Assessing Working Memory in Children: The Comprehensive Assessment Battery for Children – Working Memory (CABC-WM)
09:05

Assessing Working Memory in Children: The Comprehensive Assessment Battery for Children – Working Memory (CABC-WM)

Published on: June 12, 2017

Evolution of working memory.

Peter Carruthers1

  • 1Department of Philosophy, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA. pcarruth@umd.edu

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
|June 12, 2013
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Working memory (WM) is crucial for human cognition, yet its evolution across species remains largely unexplored. Comparative studies are needed to understand the origins and variations of this vital cognitive function.

Keywords:
attentiondefault networkepisodic memorymental rehearsalprimate

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Last Updated: May 10, 2026

Assessing Working Memory in Children: The Comprehensive Assessment Battery for Children – Working Memory (CABC-WM)
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Published on: June 12, 2017

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10:38

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

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Area of Science:

  • Cognitive Neuroscience
  • Comparative Psychology
  • Evolutionary Biology

Background:

  • Working memory (WM) underpins essential human functions like learning, reasoning, and planning.
  • Decades of research have established a strong understanding of human WM, its components, and limitations.
  • Despite its significance, cross-species comparative research on WM is notably scarce.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To highlight the critical need for comparative investigations into working memory abilities across different species.
  • To address the significant knowledge gaps concerning the evolutionary trajectory of working memory.
  • To explore how existing comparative literature, even incidentally, can inform our understanding of nonhuman animal WM.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing comparative literature on cognitive abilities.
  • Analysis of studies not explicitly designed for WM assessment to infer nonhuman WM capacities.
  • Identification of key research questions regarding the evolution of WM.

Main Results:

  • Human working memory is integral to higher-order cognition, including intelligence and reasoning.
  • There is a significant lack of comparative data on working memory across species.
  • Existing, non-targeted studies offer preliminary insights into nonhuman animal working memory.

Conclusions:

  • Understanding the evolution of working memory requires dedicated cross-species research.
  • Further investigation is essential to elucidate the comparative and evolutionary aspects of working memory.
  • The current understanding of nonhuman working memory is limited but growing through indirect evidence.