Rebecca Hart, Robert H Logie, Louise A. Brown Nicholls
{"title":"EXPRESS: Towards theoretically understanding how long-term memory semantics can support working memory performance","authors":"Rebecca Hart, Robert H Logie, Louise A. Brown Nicholls","doi":"10.1177/17470218241284414","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"Working memory is the system that supports the temporary storage and processing of information. It is generally agreed that working memory is a mental workspace, with a combination of resources operating together to maintain information in mind for potential use in thought and action. Theories typically acknowledge contributions of long-term memory to this system. One particular aspect of long-term memory, namely semantic long-term memory, can effectively supplement or ‘boost’ working memory performance. This may be a relatively automatic process via the semantic properties of the stimuli or more active via strategy development and implementation. However, the precise mechanisms require greater theoretical understanding. In this review of the literature, we critically discuss theoretical models of working memory and their proposed links with long-term memory. We also explore empirical research that contributes to our understanding of the ways in which semantics can support performance on both verbal and visuospatial working memory tasks, with a view to potential intervention development. This includes the possibility of training people with lower performance (e.g., older adults) to use semantics during working memory tasks. We conclude that semantics may offer an opportunity to maximise working memory performance. However, to realise this potential, more research is needed, particularly in the visuospatial domain.","PeriodicalId":20869,"journal":{"name":"Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.5000,"publicationDate":"2024-09-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology","FirstCategoryId":"102","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1177/17470218241284414","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q4","JCRName":"PHYSIOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Working memory is the system that supports the temporary storage and processing of information. It is generally agreed that working memory is a mental workspace, with a combination of resources operating together to maintain information in mind for potential use in thought and action. Theories typically acknowledge contributions of long-term memory to this system. One particular aspect of long-term memory, namely semantic long-term memory, can effectively supplement or ‘boost’ working memory performance. This may be a relatively automatic process via the semantic properties of the stimuli or more active via strategy development and implementation. However, the precise mechanisms require greater theoretical understanding. In this review of the literature, we critically discuss theoretical models of working memory and their proposed links with long-term memory. We also explore empirical research that contributes to our understanding of the ways in which semantics can support performance on both verbal and visuospatial working memory tasks, with a view to potential intervention development. This includes the possibility of training people with lower performance (e.g., older adults) to use semantics during working memory tasks. We conclude that semantics may offer an opportunity to maximise working memory performance. However, to realise this potential, more research is needed, particularly in the visuospatial domain.
期刊介绍:
Promoting the interests of scientific psychology and its researchers, QJEP, the journal of the Experimental Psychology Society, is a leading journal with a long-standing tradition of publishing cutting-edge research. Several articles have become classic papers in the fields of attention, perception, learning, memory, language, and reasoning. The journal publishes original articles on any topic within the field of experimental psychology (including comparative research). These include substantial experimental reports, review papers, rapid communications (reporting novel techniques or ground breaking results), comments (on articles previously published in QJEP or on issues of general interest to experimental psychologists), and book reviews. Experimental results are welcomed from all relevant techniques, including behavioural testing, brain imaging and computational modelling.
QJEP offers a competitive publication time-scale. Accepted Rapid Communications have priority in the publication cycle and usually appear in print within three months. We aim to publish all accepted (but uncorrected) articles online within seven days. Our Latest Articles page offers immediate publication of articles upon reaching their final form.
The journal offers an open access option called Open Select, enabling authors to meet funder requirements to make their article free to read online for all in perpetuity. Authors also benefit from a broad and diverse subscription base that delivers the journal contents to a world-wide readership. Together these features ensure that the journal offers authors the opportunity to raise the visibility of their work to a global audience.