Does Attending to Information in Working Memory Improve Long-Term Memory?

There is broad agreement among memory researchers that WM processes can influence LTM formation. Prior research has suggested that holding information in WM for a longer time may benefit LTM because of mechanisms such as refreshing, elaboration, or consolidation - processes presumed to rely on focused attention. However, studies manipulating free time do not isolate attention effects from other factors. Several studies have used a more direct way to study the effect of attention on LTM performance by using prioritization techniques (such as retro-cuing and rewarding) whereby attention is directed towards specific information in WM during the WM retention interval. Here we review these studies. The results are mixed: Whereas some studies find LTM benefits for prioritized items, others do not. Variability in outcomes could not be explained by differences in memory set size, presentation mode, material type, kind of priority signal, or test format. When an LTM benefit is present, the difference in performance remains modest. Thus, focused attention in WM generates at best a small benefit to LTM. Most of the included studies made use of a surprise LTM test and thus, further research is needed to determine whether the intent to remember information in the long term interacts with attention to promote LTM encoding. Altogether, our review findings suggest that attention to information in WM is insufficient on its own for robust LTM encoding.