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A Cognitive Paradigm to Investigate Interference in Working Memory by Distractions and Interruptions
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Interfering with memory for faces: The cost of doing two things at once
Jeffrey D Wammes1, Myra A Fernandes1
1a Department of Psychology , University of Waterloo , Waterloo , ON , Canada.
Memory (Hove, England)
|January 27, 2015
Summary
Memory retrieval relies on shared processing resources, not just overlapping content. Divided attention (DA) impairs memory more when tasks compete for similar cognitive functions, impacting face recognition.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Neuroscience
- Memory Research
Background:
- Episodic memory retrieval is crucial for recalling personal experiences.
- Understanding memory interference helps elucidate cognitive limitations.
- Previous research suggested material-specific interference effects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the processes underlying episodic face retrieval.
- To determine the role of processing resource competition in memory interference.
- To differentiate between material-specific and processing-specific accounts of interference.
Main Methods:
- Two experiments measured face recognition under full attention (FA) and divided attention (DA).
- DA conditions involved concurrent auditory letter tasks or face-based distracting tasks (featural/configural).
- Interference was quantified by comparing memory performance under DA versus FA.
Main Results:
- Memory was impaired under DA conditions compared to FA.
- Interference magnitude was similar when distracting task materials overlapped with target information.
- Significantly greater interference occurred when distracting and target tasks shared processing demands (42% decline).
Conclusions:
- Memory interference is primarily driven by competition for shared processing resources.
- Findings support a processing-specific account of memory interference over material-specific accounts.
- Episodic retrieval is sensitive to the cognitive load imposed by concurrent tasks.
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