The Effects Of Cognitive Load And Processing Duration On Working Memory Span

We used computer-paced working memory span tasks that enabled us to carefully control for both cognitive load and processing duration of the tasks. So we could easily find out how these variables influence subject's working memory span.The aim of experiment one was to replicate and extend previous results observed by Barrouillet and Camos (2004). In this experiment, we use verbal working memory span task to test the effect of cognitive load and processing duration. Two-way (cognitive load X processing duration) analyses of variance on the span data revealed that, there was a main significant effect of cognitive load. When the total processing duration of the task is held constant, the heavier cognitive load cause lower verbal working memory span. Processing duration cannot impact verbal working memory span straightly, but it dose can change cognitive load and so the span changed indirectly.In experiment two, we validate the results of experiment one in space working memory span task, but the results are more complicated. Two-way (cognitive load X processing duration) analyses of variance on the span data revealed that, When the total processing duration of the task is held constant, there was not exist a main significant effect of cognitive load, despite the span of the low cognitive load group is appreciably higher than the span of high cognitive load group, but the difference is not evident. The effect of processing duration is the same as experiment one, processing duration can change cognitive load and then change the span indirectly.It could be concluded that cognitive load can affect working memory span evidently; Processing duration affect working memory span indirectly by change cognitive load of processing.