Asymmetric cross-domain interference between two working memory tasks: Implications for models of working memory

作者：Morey Candice C^*; Morey Richard D; van der Reijden Madeleine; Holweg Margot

来源：Journal of Memory and Language, 2013, 69(3): 324-348.

DOI：10.1016/j.jml.2013.04.004

• Working memory
• Attention
• Verbal short-term memory
• Visuo-spatial short-term memory
• Visual short-term memory

Observations of higher dual-task costs for within-domain than cross-domain task combinations constitute classic evidence for multi-component models of working memory (e.g., Baddeley, 1986; Logie, 2011). However, we report an asymmetric pattern of interference between verbal and visual-spatial tasks, such that imposing a verbal memory load provokes graded decreases in visual memory performance, but imposing a visual memory load does not much affect verbal memory performance. Across multiple experiments, we verify that this pattern cannot adequately be explained as a mere byproduct of stimulus recoding or strategic preference. Current working memory models do not predict this persistent finding, thus a change in ongoing debate about relationships between attention and maintenance of verbal and visual mental representations is necessary.