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Updated: Feb 18, 2026

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Alpha span: A measure of working memory.

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Canadian Journal of Experimental Psychology = Revue Canadienne De Psychologie Experimentale
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The alpha span test measures verbal-numerical working memory (WM). Performance is highest in young adults and declines with age, indicating age-related differences in cognitive function.

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Area of Science:

  • Cognitive Psychology
  • Neuroscience
  • Human Development

Background:

  • Working memory (WM) is crucial for cognitive tasks.
  • The alpha span test offers a novel method for assessing verbal-numerical WM.
  • Existing measures may not fully capture the complexities of WM.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To introduce and validate the alpha span test as a measure of verbal-numerical working memory.
  • To investigate age-related differences in working memory capacity from young adulthood to older age.
  • To examine the reliability and construct validity of the alpha span measure in relation to other cognitive abilities.

Main Methods:

  • Participants aged 17-87 completed the alpha span test, involving mental reordering of word lists.
  • A scoring method accounting for partially correct answers was employed.
  • Reliability and correlations with other cognitive measures were analyzed.

Main Results:

  • The alpha span test demonstrated validity and reliability as a measure of working memory.
  • Peak performance on the alpha span test was observed in individuals in their 20s.
  • A systematic decline in alpha span performance was evident from the 20s through the 80s.

Conclusions:

  • Working memory capacity shows significant age-related decline.
  • The alpha span test is a sensitive tool for detecting these age-related changes.
  • Working memory likely involves both domain-general executive functions and task-specific abilities.