Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 12, 2026
10:38
A Cognitive Paradigm to Investigate Interference in Working Memory by Distractions and Interruptions
Published on: July 16, 2015
Scheduling processes in working memory: instructions control the order of memory search and mental arithmetic
A Ehrenstein1, R Schweickert, S Choi
1Psychology Department, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USA. addie@rice.edu
Summary
Limited working memory capacity forces one-at-a-time processing. Experiments show central bottleneck limits access to working memory, constraining tasks and responses to sequential execution.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Human working memory has limited capacity, necessitating serial processing for complex tasks.
- Understanding the bottlenecks in working memory access is crucial for explaining cognitive limitations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the locus of capacity limits in working memory.
- To determine if central processing or response execution is the primary bottleneck.
Main Methods:
- Two experiments involved simultaneous memory search and mental arithmetic tasks.
- Task order and response order were manipulated.
- Critical path network analysis of reaction times was used to infer covert process order.
Main Results:
- Overt responses were executed in the instructed order.
- Covert working memory processes also followed the prescribed order.
- Reaction time data supported a double-bottleneck model.
Conclusions:
- Central cognitive processes and response execution are constrained to occur one at a time.
- A double-bottleneck model effectively explains the observed limitations in working memory access.
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