The impact of working memory load on task execution and online plan adjustment during multitasking in a virtual environment

Abstract

Three experiments investigated the impact of working memory load on on-line plan adjustment during a test of multitasking in young, non-expert, adult participants. Multitasking was assessed using the Edinburgh Virtual Errands Test (EVET -Logie, . Participants were asked to memorise either good or poor plans for performing multiple errands, and were assessed both on task completion and the extent to which they modified their plans during EVET performance. EVET was performed twice, with and without a secondary task loading a component of working memory. In Experiment 1 articulatory suppression was used to load the phonological loop.In Experiment 2, oral random generation was used to load executive functions. In Experiment 3, spatial working memory was loaded with an auditory spatial localisation task. EVET performance for both good and poor planning groups was disrupted by random generation and sound localisation, but not by articulatory suppression. Additionally, people given a poor plan were able to overcome this initial disadvantage by modifying their plans on-line. It was concluded that, in addition to executive functions, multiple errands performance draws heavily on spatial, but not verbal, working memory resources but can be successfully completed on the basis of modifying plans on-line, despite a secondary task load.3 Acknowledgements

Regional Frontal Perfusion Deficits in Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis with Cognitive Decline

“…32,33 BA 46 activation is associated with working memory processes, as well as memory manipulation. 31,33 It has been assumed that working memory is involved in a diversity of cognitive processes, including planning, 34 reasoning, 35 and problem solving. 36 On the other hand, involvement of BA 6 in memory and attention may be due to the activation of an extended brain network where the middle frontal gyrus has a fundamental task in memory strategy organization and memory control.…”

Age-Related Differences in Multiple Task Monitoring

“…Other studies have assessed planning and implementation of subgoals in simulated work settings (e.g. [12]) and virtual environments [2], [3].…”

Perspectives on working memory: introduction to the special issue

“…A similar pattern of this kind of domain-specific double dissociation between visuo-spatial and verbal working memory was reported by Logie, Zucco, and Baddeley (1990), except that, in addition to the substantial domain-specific interference, they found evidence of a smaller, domain-general involvement in the carrying out of two concurrent demanding tasks. This general theme of identifying the domain-specific and domaingeneral components of working memory has been a feature of much of my subsequent research on working memory (e.g., Cocchini, Logie, Della Sala, MacPherson, & Baddeley, 2002;Law, Trawley, Brown, Stephens, & Logie, 2013;Logie, 1995Logie, , 2003Logie, , 2011Logie, Cocchini, Della Sala, & Baddeley, 2004;Logie, Trawley, & Law, 2011). The general idea is that when task demands can be met within the capacity of domainspecific resources, they work in concert for task completion.…”