Reappraising the relationship between working memory and conscious awareness
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 26, 2026

Reducing State Anxiety Using Working Memory Maintenance
Published on: July 19, 2017
1Imperial College London, Division of Brain Sciences, Charing Cross Campus, St Dunstan's Road, W6 8RP, London, UK.
Abstract:
Classically, the operation of working memory (WM) has been strongly coupled with conscious states; it is thought that WM operates on conscious input and that we are conscious of the contents and operations of WM. Here, we re-evaluate the relationship between WM and conscious awareness in light of current data and question the views that awareness is mandatory for the operation of WM and that WM contents are necessarily linked to experiential states that are consciously accessible for perceptual report. We propose a novel framework for the relationship between WM and conscious awareness.
More Related Videos
09:14Exploring the Neural Correlates of Cognitive Reappraisal in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Using Task-based Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Published on: March 14, 2025
10:38A Cognitive Paradigm to Investigate Interference in Working Memory by Distractions and Interruptions
Published on: July 16, 2015
Related Concept Videos
Working Memory
High-Level and Low-Level Awareness
Subconsciousness and No Awareness
An illustrative example of subconscious processing is its role in problem-solving. Often, individuals...
Understanding Consciousness
Sleep, a crucial state, is characterized by reduced...
Metacognition
Retrieval
Recall involves accessing information without cues, such as during an essay test, where individuals must retrieve facts and concepts from memory unaided. Another example is remembering the name of a colleague...