Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 7, 2026
07:21
The Emotional Stroop Task: Assessing Cognitive Performance under Exposure to Emotional Content
Published on: June 29, 2016
41.5K
The Influence of Working Memory Load on Expectancy-Based Strategic Processes in the Stroop-Priming Task
Juan J Ortells1, Dolores Álvarez1, Carmen Noguera1
1Department of Psychology, University of Almería Almería, Spain.
Frontiers in Psychology
|February 17, 2017
Summary
Cognitive control resources, influenced by working memory (WM) load, impact strategic actions. High WM load impairs strategic processing, while low WM load enables it, demonstrating WM
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Cognitive control allows strategic adaptation of behavior based on environmental regularities.
- Working memory (WM) is essential for maintaining and manipulating information, underpinning cognitive control.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how varying working memory (WM) load affects the capacity for expectancy-based strategic actions.
- To determine if cognitive control resources are differentially available under different WM loads.
Main Methods:
- Participants completed a Stroop-priming task interleaved with a WM task.
- WM load was manipulated by requiring participants to remember sequences of digits (low vs. high load).
- The Stroop task involved incongruent and congruent prime-target color trials with known proportions.
Main Results:
- A significant interaction was found between prime-target congruency and WM load.
- Under low WM load, a strategy-dependent (reversed Stroop) effect was observed.
- Under high WM load, a standard Stroop interference effect occurred.
Conclusions:
- Working memory availability is critical for implementing expectancy-based strategic actions.
- High cognitive load associated with WM demands hinders strategic processing.
- Reduced cognitive load facilitates the use of strategic control mechanisms.
Related Concept Videos
01:24Working Memory
1.1K
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...
1.1K
01:30Impact of Schemas
246
Schemas are cognitive structures that provide a framework for interpreting and organizing social information. They help individuals navigate complex environments by offering expectations about people, events, and behaviors. Schemas influence attention, encoding, and retrieval processes, thereby shaping the entire trajectory of information processing in social contexts.Attention and Cognitive LoadDuring initial attention, schemas function as filters that prioritize schema-consistent information,...
246
01:29The Influence of Cognition on Affect
262
Cognition plays a pivotal role in shaping emotional experiences, as demonstrated by Schachter and Singer’s two-factor theory of emotion. According to this model, emotion arises from a combination of physiological arousal and cognitive interpretation. The body’s physiological response to stimuli is ambiguous and only gains emotional significance through cognitive labeling. For instance, an increased heart rate and adrenaline surge while standing near an attractive person may be...
262
01:25Self-Regulation
305
Self-regulation, also known as self-control, encompasses a range of cognitive and behavioral processes that allow individuals to adjust their internal states and outward actions to align with socially acceptable norms and long-term goals. It plays a fundamental role in adaptive functioning, from resisting impulsive behaviors to persisting through challenging tasks. While its benefits are widely recognized, self-regulation is not limitless. Muraven and Baumeister's theory posits that...
305
01:09First Impression
298
First impressions play a crucial role in social perception, shaping how individuals assess others in professional, academic, and interpersonal contexts. Psychological research highlights the significance of cognitive biases, such as the primacy and recency effects, which influence how people interpret and recall information.The Primacy Effect and Cognitive AnchoringThe primacy effect describes the tendency for initial information to impact judgment disproportionately. When individuals encounter...
298
01:28Automatic Processing and Automatic Social Behavior
292
Automatic processing refers to the cognitive operations that occur without conscious intent or awareness, playing a fundamental role in shaping social cognition and behavior. These processes enable individuals to navigate complex social environments efficiently by relying on mental shortcuts and pre-existing knowledge structures known as schemas. One of the most influential mechanisms underlying automatic processing is priming, which subtly activates mental representations through exposure to...
292