OpenWMB: An open-source and automated working memory task battery for OpenSesame

Area of Science:

• Cognitive Psychology
• Neuroscience
• Psychometrics

Background:

• Working memory capacity (WMC) is crucial for cognitive functions.
• Existing automated WMC task batteries often use proprietary software or limited paradigms.
• There is a need for accessible, comprehensive WMC assessment tools.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce OpenWMB, a novel, open-source automated battery of working memory tasks.
• To evaluate the psychometric properties of the Portuguese version of OpenWMB.
• To compare different methods of assessing WMC and their relationship with fluid intelligence.

Main Methods:

• Developed OpenWMB, an automated battery with seven tasks across three paradigms (complex spans, updating, binding) using OpenSesame software.
• Assessed psychometric properties (internal consistency, validity) of the Portuguese version.
• Conducted permutation analysis to compare WMC estimation from individual tasks, homogenous factors, and heterogeneous factors against a fluid intelligence factor.

Main Results:

• The Portuguese OpenWMB demonstrated good internal consistency and strong internal/predictive validity.
• All tasks loaded onto a single WMC factor, which correlated highly with fluid intelligence.
• Heterogeneous WMC factors, derived from tasks across different paradigms, provided the best estimates of WMC.

Conclusions:

• OpenWMB is a valid and reliable, freely available tool for assessing WMC.
• Assessing WMC using a combination of tasks from different paradigms (heterogeneous factors) yields superior estimates.
• This approach enhances the understanding of WMC and its relationship with fluid intelligence.