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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 7, 2026

Working Memory Training for Older Participants: A Control Group Training Regimen and Initial Intellectual Functioning Assessment

Working Memory Training for Older Participants: A Control Group Training Regimen and Initial Intellectual Functioning Assessment

Published on: September 20, 2020

Effects of strategy on visual working memory capacity.

Jesse J Bengson¹, Steven J Luck²

¹Center for Mind & Brain and Department of Psychology, University of California-Davis, Davis California, CA, 95618, USA.

Psychonomic Bulletin & Review

|July 4, 2015

Summary

Instructions on encoding strategies can enhance visual working memory capacity. Remembering the entire display, even beyond capacity, increased estimated working memory, unlike focusing on a subset.

Keywords:

Visual working memory Working memory

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Last Updated: Apr 7, 2026

Working Memory Training for Older Participants: A Control Group Training Regimen and Initial Intellectual Functioning Assessment

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

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Published on: July 16, 2015

Area of Science:

Cognitive Psychology
Neuroscience

Background:

Individual differences in working memory capacity are linked to encoding strategy effectiveness.
Working memory capacity may be modifiable through targeted instructions.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate if explicit encoding strategy instructions can increase estimated working memory capacity.
To compare the effects of different encoding strategies on performance in a change detection task.

Main Methods:

Participants completed a change detection task with varying set sizes.
Different groups received explicit instructions: remember the entire display, focus on a subset, or do their best.
Estimated working memory capacity was measured for each condition.

Main Results:

Estimated working memory capacity increased significantly when participants were instructed to remember the entire visual display, even for items exceeding their typical capacity.
No increase in estimated capacity was observed for participants instructed to focus on a subset of items.
Performance was contrary to the hypothesis that filtering items beyond capacity is optimal.

Conclusions:

Encoding strategies play a crucial role in determining visual working memory performance.
Instructing individuals to encode all items, rather than filter, can enhance estimated working memory capacity.
These findings challenge the notion that limiting focus to within capacity is always the most effective strategy.