scholarly journals Can Older Adults Enhance Task-Switching Performance by Verbal Self-Instructions? The Influence of Working-Memory Load and Early Learning

2010 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jutta Kray ◽  
Joanna Lucenet ◽  
Agnès Blaye
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Working Memory ◽  
Task Switching ◽  
Memory Load ◽  
Early Learning ◽  
Working Memory Load ◽  
Switching Performance

scholarly journals Inattention and task switching performance: the role of predictability, working memory load and goal neglect

2019 ◽  
Vol 84 (8) ◽  
pp. 2090-2110
Author(s):  
Gizem Arabacı ◽  
Benjamin A. Parris
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Task Switching ◽  
Memory Load ◽  
Proactive Control ◽  
Reactive Control ◽  
Working Memory Load ◽  
Switching Performance ◽  
Switch Costs ◽  
Goal Neglect

Abstract Inattention is a symptom of many clinical disorders including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and is thought to be primarily related to limitations in working memory. In two studies, we investigated the implications of inattention for task switching performance. In study one, we measured task switching performance using predictable and unpredictable conditions in adults who self-rated inattention and other ADHD-related tendencies. Tasks required proactive control and reactive control, respectively, under both high and low working memory loads. Results revealed that inattentive, but not hyperactive/impulsive traits, predicted switch costs when switching was predictable and working memory load was high. None of the ADHD traits were related to unpredictable switch costs. Study two was designed to: (1) de-confound the role of proactive control and the need to keep track of task order in the predictable task switching paradigm; (2) investigate whether goal neglect, an impairment related to working memory, could explain the relationship between inattention and predictable task switching. Results revealed that neither predictability nor the need to keep track of the task order led to the association between switch costs and inattention, but instead it was the tendency for those high in inattention to neglect preparatory proactive control, especially when reactive control options were available.

scholarly journals Working Memory Load-Dependent Brain Response Predicts Behavioral Training Gains in Older Adults

2014 ◽  
Vol 34 (4) ◽  
pp. 1224-1233 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Heinzel ◽  
R. C. Lorenz ◽  
W.-R. Brockhaus ◽  
T. Wustenberg ◽  
N. Kathmann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Working Memory ◽  
Memory Load ◽  
Brain Response ◽  
Behavioral Training ◽  
Working Memory Load

scholarly journals Effects of Working Memory Load and Age on the Comprehension of Passive Sentences

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 13
Author(s):  
Xinmiao Liu
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Working Memory ◽  
Sentence Comprehension ◽  
Memory Load ◽  
Matching Task ◽  
Age Difference ◽  
Working Memory Load ◽  
Cognitive Changes ◽  
Younger Adults ◽  
Passive Sentence

The ability of older adults to comprehend sentences may decline due to the cognitive changes in working memory. Therefore, an increase in working memory demands during sentence comprehension would result in poorer performance among older adults. To test this hypothesis, the present study explored sentence comprehension as a result of manipulations of age and working memory loads using a sentence-picture matching task. 35 older adults and 35 younger adults were required to match Mandarin passive sentences (high working memory load) and active sentences (low working memory load) with pictures. Passive sentences were found to be more difficult than active sentences for all participants. Older adults responded to passive sentences more slowly than younger adults. However, no significant age difference was found in accuracy of responses. Accuracy on passive sentence comprehension was marginally correlated with syntactic complexity effect among older adults. Compared with younger adults, older adults seem to be more disrupted by the increased WM load in passive sentence comprehension, but they can compensate for the decline in the accuracy of comprehension by spending extra time on sentences with high WM load.

Reduced Frontal Activations at High Working Memory Load in Mild Cognitive Impairment: Near-Infrared Spectroscopy

2016 ◽  
Vol 42 (5-6) ◽  
pp. 278-296 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael K. Yeung ◽  
Sophia L. Sze ◽  
Jean Woo ◽  
Timothy Kwok ◽  
David H.K. Shum ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Working Memory ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Infrared Spectroscopy ◽  
Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Near Infrared Spectroscopy ◽  
Near Infrared ◽  
Memory Load ◽  
Load Condition ◽  
Working Memory Load

Background: Some functional magnetic resonance imaging studies have reported altered activations in the frontal cortex during working memory (WM) performance in individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), but the findings have been mixed. The objective of the present study was to utilize near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), an alternative imaging technique, to examine neural processing during WM performance in individuals with MCI. Methods: Twenty-six older adults with MCI (7 males; mean age 69.15 years) were compared with 26 age-, gender-, handedness-, and education-matched older adults with normal cognition (NC; 7 males; mean age 68.87 years). All of the participants undertook an n-back task with a low (i.e., 0-back) and a high (i.e., 2-back) WM load condition while their prefrontal dynamics were recorded by a 16-channel NIRS system. Results: Although behavioral results showed that the two groups had comparable task performance, neuroimaging results showed that the MCI group, unlike the NC group, did not exhibit significantly increased frontal activations bilaterally when WM load increased. Compared to the NC group, the MCI group had similar frontal activations at low load (p > 0.05 on all channels) but reduced activations at high load (p < 0.05 on 4 channels), thus failing to demonstrate WM-related frontal activations (p < 0.05 on 9 channels). In addition, we found a positive correlation between the left WM-related frontal activations and WM ability primarily in the NC group (rs = 0.42, p = 0.035), suggesting a relationship between frontal hypoactivation and WM difficulties. Conclusion: The present findings suggest the presence of frontal dysfunction that is dependent on WM load in individuals with MCI.

scholarly journals Higher Levels of Plasma interleukin-6 Are Associated with Lower BOLD Responses to Working Memory Load in Older Adults

2015 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. S98-S99
Author(s):  
Sheena I. Dev ◽  
Raeanne Moore ◽  
Savannah R. Jones ◽  
Benchawanna Soontornniyomkij ◽  
Cristian L. Achim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Working Memory ◽  
Interleukin 6 ◽  
Memory Load ◽  
Working Memory Load ◽  
Bold Responses

Can older adults acquire a novel motor skill independently of working memory load?

2007 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guillaume Chauvel ◽  
Francois Maquestiaux ◽  
Sven Joubert ◽  
Nicolas Benguigui ◽  
Jean Bertsch
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Working Memory ◽  
Motor Skill ◽  
Memory Load ◽  
Working Memory Load

scholarly journals Working Memory Load Influence on Control of Attention among Malaysian Undergraduates

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Khairun Emylyana Amin ◽  
Fitri Suraya Mohamad
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Reaction Time ◽  
Task Switching ◽  
Memory Load ◽  
Memory Task ◽  
Full Time ◽  
Working Memory Load ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Quasi Experimental ◽  
And Task

The study investigates how working memory affects students' control of attention. A quasi-experimental research is conducted individually on 52 undergraduates of a public university in Malaysia, enrolled in various full-time undergraduate programmes, using Sternberg memory task and Task-switching tests. The reaction time is taken in milliseconds (ms) to differentiate the results for both tasks. The analysis revealed that when memory load was increased, reaction time also escalated. In the task-switching test, when one task was given at any one time, the reaction time was swift; however, when two or more tasks were integrated into one task, the reaction time would subsequently decelerated. Although the study also revealed that there is no significant difference between genders in terms of handling memory load and task-switching. However, a significant relationship was observed in performances between memory load and task-switching. It is also evidenced in the study that when memory load increases, it compounds the reaction time for task-switching. Results from the study inform course instructors to be aware of cognitive load when chunking information and assigning tasks to students, as their decisions on content quantity bore an effect on what would be remembered when students learn.  

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