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Related Concept Videos

Working Memory01:24

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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...
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Language serves as a bridge between ideas and communication, influencing how individuals perceive and interact with the world. Psychologists have long debated whether language shapes thought or vice versa. This discussion gained grip with Edward Sapir and Benjamin Lee Whorf in the 1940s, who proposed that language determines thought, a concept known as linguistic determinism. They suggested that the vocabulary and structure of a language influence how its speakers think and perceive reality.
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Biological Influences on Intelligence01:30

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Intelligence is often thought to be linked to brain size, but the relationship is more complex than that. While brain size does correlate modestly with some abilities, like verbal skills, the connection is weaker for others, such as spatial reasoning. Other factors, like brain structure, also play crucial roles. For instance, despite Einstein's smaller-than-average brain, his parietal cortex, which is involved in spatial reasoning, was 15% wider, suggesting that neural density might matter...
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Information Processing Approach01:30

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The information-processing theory of cognitive development centers on fundamental mental processes, including attention, memory, and problem-solving skills. Researchers in this field examine how cognitive abilities, such as working memory, evolve and influence children's overall development. Studies indicate that children with stronger working memory tend to excel in reading comprehension, math, and problem-solving compared to peers with less efficient memory skills. Low working memory is...
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Nov 1, 2025

Assessing Working Memory in Children: The Comprehensive Assessment Battery for Children – Working Memory (CABC-WM)
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Sex differences in verbal working memory: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Daniel Voyer1, Jean Saint Aubin2, Katelyn Altman1

  • 1Department of Psychology, University of New Brunswick.

Psychological Bulletin
|June 24, 2021
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This meta-analysis found a small female advantage in verbal working memory. Sex differences varied by task, with females excelling in cued and free recall, while males showed an advantage in complex span tasks.

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Area of Science:

  • Cognitive Psychology
  • Neuroscience
  • Human Behavior

Background:

  • Verbal working memory is crucial for cognitive functions.
  • Understanding sex differences in cognitive abilities is essential for theory building and clinical applications.
  • Previous research on sex differences in verbal working memory has yielded inconsistent results.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To quantify overall sex differences in verbal working memory.
  • To investigate task-specific sex differences in verbal working memory.
  • To identify moderators influencing these sex differences.

Main Methods:

  • A multilevel meta-analysis of 802 effect sizes from 478 samples across 284 studies.
  • Categorization of tasks into cued, free recall, complex span, serial recall, and simple span.
  • Examination of potential moderators including recall direction, stimulus type, presentation format, response format, and age.

Main Results:

  • A small overall female advantage in verbal working memory (g = .028).
  • Significant female advantages in cued recall (g = .079) and free recall (g = .145).
  • A male advantage in complex span tasks (g = -.042), with no significant differences in serial or simple span tasks.

Conclusions:

  • Sex differences in verbal working memory are task-dependent.
  • Factors like recall direction, stimulus characteristics, and age significantly moderate these differences.
  • Findings contribute to understanding sex differences in episodic memory and have implications for clinical practice.