Impact of motor error processing on performance on a working memory task: effect of modulating cognitive load in high...

Area of Science:

• Cognitive Psychology
• Neuroscience

Background:

• Errors impact subsequent performance, a phenomenon known as Post Error Slowing.
• The Error Related Impairment of Active Working Memory (ERIAM) describes memory degradation after errors on concurrent tasks.
• Previous research indicated ERIAM is more pronounced in individuals with low working memory spans.

Purpose of the Study:

• To replicate the ERIAM effect with variations in cognitive load.
• To investigate how cognitive load modulates the ERIAM effect in individuals with differing working memory spans.
• To examine the impact of errors on working memory recall in addition to recognition.

Main Methods:

• Replication of the ERIAM protocol involving a flanker task and a working memory span task.
• Introduction of varying cognitive load conditions (moderate and increased).
• Modification of the working memory task to include both recognition and recall components.

Main Results:

• The ERIAM effect was successfully replicated in the study sample.
• ERIAM was significant in the low span group under moderate cognitive load.
• ERIAM was significant in the high span group under increased cognitive load.

Conclusions:

• The findings support the ERIAM effect and its modulation by cognitive load.
• Individual differences in working memory capacity influence susceptibility to ERIAM under different cognitive loads.
• Results align with load theory, suggesting differential processing of cognitive load by high and low span individuals.