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Prioritizing Information during Working Memory: Beyond Sustained Internal Attention.

Nicholas E Myers1, Mark G Stokes1, Anna C Nobre1

  • 1Oxford Centre for Human Brain Activity, Oxford University, Oxford, UK; Department of Experimental Psychology, Oxford University, Oxford, UK.

Trends in Cognitive Sciences
|April 30, 2017
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Attention prioritizes information in working memory (WM) through a multi-step process. This model explains how WM capacity is managed and links attention to task switching and action preparation.

Keywords:
attentionfocus of attentionlatent information storageretrocuetask setworking memory

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Area of Science:

  • Cognitive Neuroscience
  • Psychology

Background:

  • Working memory (WM) has a limited capacity, necessitating mechanisms for selective information processing.
  • Attention plays a critical role in selecting relevant information for storage and prioritizing existing representations within WM.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To propose an updated model of working memory prioritization.
  • To elucidate the multi-step process of prioritization, including selection and reconfiguration of memory representations.
  • To link working memory dynamics with task switching and action preparation.

Main Methods:

  • Conceptual modeling based on existing cognitive neuroscience literature.
  • Formulation of testable predictions regarding attention, working memory, and task performance.

Main Results:

  • Prioritization involves distinct stages: orienting to/selecting a memory and reconfiguring its representational state.
  • Reconfiguration optimizes perception-action mapping, reducing the need for sustained attention.
  • The proposed model integrates working memory with task switching and action preparation.

Conclusions:

  • Attention's role in working memory extends beyond initial selection to include dynamic reconfiguration of representations.
  • This multi-step prioritization model offers a more comprehensive understanding of working memory function.
  • The model provides a framework for future empirical research linking working memory, attention, and executive functions.