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Related Concept Videos

Working Memory01:24

Working Memory

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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...
614

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A Cognitive Paradigm to Investigate Interference in Working Memory by Distractions and Interruptions
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Searching Through Alternating Sequences: Working Memory and Inhibitory Tagging Mechanisms Revealed Using the MILO

Ian M Thornton1, Todd S Horowitz2

  • 1Department of Cognitive Science, Faculty of Media and Knowledge Sciences, University of Malta, Msida, Malta.

I-Perception
|November 5, 2020
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

This study on visual search found that alternating between letters and digits, like in Trail Making Test-B, caused participants to search for pairs of targets, unlike sequential searches. This explains why TMT-B is harder than TMT-A.

Keywords:
MILOMulti-Item Localisation taskTMTTrail Making Testattentioninhibitory taggingvisual searchworking memory

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Area of Science:

  • Cognitive Psychology
  • Neuroscience
  • Human Factors

Background:

  • Visual search efficiency is crucial for many tasks.
  • The Trail Making Test (TMT) assesses cognitive flexibility and executive function.
  • TMT-A (sequential) and TMT-B (alternating) differ in task demands, with TMT-B typically showing longer completion times.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the cognitive mechanisms underlying visual search in sequential versus alternating conditions.
  • To compare search patterns in the Multi-Item Localisation (MILO) task with TMT-A and TMT-B.
  • To elucidate the role of inhibitory tagging in visual search performance.

Main Methods:

  • Participants performed the MILO task with visual search through letter and digit sequences.
  • Trials were blocked into 'Sequential' (letters then digits) and 'Mixed' (alternating letters and digits) conditions.
  • Target visibility after selection was manipulated (vanished or remained visible).

Main Results:

  • Reaction times in Mixed blocks showed a saw-tooth pattern, indicative of searching for successive target pairs.
  • In Sequential blocks, reaction times were similar whether targets vanished or remained visible.
  • In Mixed blocks, reaction time patterns diverged between vanish and remain conditions, suggesting impaired inhibitory tagging.

Conclusions:

  • Alternating search (Mixed blocks) engages different cognitive processes than sequential search (Sequential blocks).
  • The observed saw-tooth pattern and divergence in Mixed blocks suggest a breakdown in inhibitory tagging, hindering the ability to ignore previously selected targets.
  • These findings provide a potential explanation for the increased difficulty and completion times associated with TMT-B compared to TMT-A.