Developmental Change in Working Memory Capacity and its Components

Authors
Rohollah Shahabi 1
javad Kavusian 2
saeid Akbari Zardkhaneh 3
nastaran Rezae 4
1 Institute for Humanities and Cultural Studies, Tehran, Iran.
2 Department of Psychology, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran.
3 Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran.
4 Ruzbeh Psychiatric Hospital, Tehran, Iran.
Abstract


Abstract

Working memory is the comprehensive cognitive system that embedded attentional and memorial mechanisms and therefore can be used in systematic research of cognitive problems. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to investigate the developmental changes of working memory capacity, and its components, including phonological loop, visuospatial sketchpad, and central executive (inhibition and updating). A total of 356 children (8 and 12 years) recruited from primary school in Tehran were selected and tested. Digit Span, and the Kim Karad Visual Memory Test were used for measuring phonological loop and visuospatial sketchpad. Working memory capacity was measured by Backward Digit Span, and finally, the Stroop Task, and the Keep Track task measured central executive. Data analyzing showed as child growth, working memory and its components become more effective. More skills in arithmetic abilities, more flexibility in storage and processing, more experience in academic achievement and more use of metacognitive strategies can be possible reasons for the results of this study.
Keywords
Working memory capacity
Executive Functions
shifting
updating attention
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