Question 1

In the discussion of working memory, why did Teasdale and his colleagues (1995) conclude that daydreaming is processed by the central executive?

Accepted Answer

Teasdale and his colleagues concluded that daydreaming is processed by the central executive because people could generate a sequence of random numbers more successfully if they were not daydreaming, indicating that daydreaming competes for the resources of the central executive.

Question 2

Baddeley's model of working memory now includes a feature called the "episodic buffer." According to Baddeley, this feature

Accepted Answer

The episodic buffer in Baddeley's model of working memory is designed to integrate information from the visuospatial sketchpad, the phonological loop, and long-term memory into coherent episodes. It acts as a temporary store that combines different types of information to form unified memories.

Question 3

McCabe and colleagues note that the concept of the central executive in cognitive psychology is very similar to the concept of _______ in the cognitive neurosciences.

Accepted Answer

The central executive in cognitive psychology is conceptually similar to the prefrontal executive attention network in cognitive neurosciences. Both concepts involve the regulation and control of attention and cognitive processes, with the prefrontal executive attention network providing a neuroscientific basis for the functions attributed to the central executive.

Question 4

You have set aside 2 hours to study for an exam in this course, and you are currently deciding to review the new terms, writing down any terms that you cannot define. Which feature of Baddeley's theory handles this planning activity?

Accepted Answer

The central executive is responsible for planning and decision-making processes in Baddeley's model of working memory, which would include deciding how to allocate study time and what strategies to use, such as reviewing new terms.

Question 5

Neuroscientists who have examined the visuospatial sketchpad have discovered that

Accepted Answer

Visual and spatial tasks typically activate the right hemisphere of the brain, as found in neuroscientific studies. This hemisphere is often associated with non-verbal, spatial, and holistic processing, which includes the handling of visual and spatial information.

Question 6

Your textbook discusses research about the relationship between depression and performance on tasks involving the phonological loop. This research showed that

Accepted Answer

Research indicates that depression can negatively affect cognitive functions, including those related to the phonological loop, leading to poorer performance on related tasks compared to individuals without depression.

Question 7

People with _____ often show problems in daily functioning because their excessive worrying takes up so much of their working memory capacity that it reduces their ability to perform cognitive tasks.

Accepted Answer

People with Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) often experience excessive worrying that can significantly impair their daily functioning. This constant worrying consumes a large portion of their working memory capacity, making it more difficult for them to perform cognitive tasks effectively.

Question 8

In the working-memory model, which of the following cognitive activities would the central executive be most likely to perform?

Accepted Answer

The central executive in the working-memory model is responsible for directing attention and resources toward relevant information and suppressing irrelevant information. It decides which information to keep in working memory and which to discard, making choice B the correct answer.

Question 9

Based on Chapter 4's discussion of depression and working memory, a clinical psychologist should know that people with depression

Accepted Answer

The answer of Based on Chapter 4's discussion of depression...

Question 10

Chapter 4 discusses characteristics of individuals with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). According to this discussion, people with ADHD are especially likely to have difficulty with which of the following components of working memory?

Accepted Answer

The central executive component of working memory is particularly challenging for individuals with ADHD, as it is responsible for directing attention and managing tasks, areas where those with ADHD often struggle.

Question 11

Baddeley's current model of working memory includes a feature called the episodic buffer. According to Baddeley's description, the episodic buffer

Accepted Answer

The episodic buffer in Baddeley's model of working memory is designed to integrate information from the phonological loop, the visuospatial sketchpad, and long-term memory into a single, coherent episode or memory. It does not store unconscious material, have a smaller capacity than other components, or store early childhood memories specifically.

Question 12

Chapter 4 discusses neuroscience research on the central executive. According to this discussion, the central executive

Accepted Answer

The central executive, a key component of working memory, is primarily controlled by portions of the frontal lobe. This area of the brain is crucial for higher-order cognitive functions, including decision-making, problem-solving, and regulating attention.

Question 13

People with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder often have problems because they are impulsive and inattentive. The component of working memory that is most likely to be relevant in these problems is

Accepted Answer

The central executive is the component of working memory that is most relevant to the problems experienced by people with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), as it is responsible for directing attention and managing cognitive processes. Impulsivity and inattention, common in ADHD, are directly related to the central executive's functions.

Question 14

According to the Baddeley's revised model of working memory, one major purpose of the episodic buffer is to

Accepted Answer

The episodic buffer in Baddeley's revised model of working memory serves as a temporary storage system that integrates information from different sources, including long-term memory, the phonological loop, and the visuospatial sketchpad, to form coherent episodes or memories.

Question 15

Christopher and MacDonald compared the working memory capacities of people with and without major depression. They found that, in general, depressed people performed

Accepted Answer

Research indicates that depression can negatively affect various components of working memory, including the phonological loop, visuospatial sketchpad, and central executive, leading to overall poorer performance in tasks involving these areas.

Question 16

Researchers in neuroscience, over the past two decades, have spent a great deal of time working on the

Accepted Answer

The executive attention network has been a significant focus of neuroscience research over the past two decades, as it plays a crucial role in attention, working memory, and cognitive control.

Question 17

The chapter on working memory discussed several studies about individual differences in working memory. Which of the following students provides the best information about how working memory is related to academic skills?

Accepted Answer

Aroona's statement is correct because it highlights the relationship between the central executive component of working memory and academic skills like reading comprehension, which is supported by research indicating that the central executive plays a crucial role in complex cognitive tasks, including various academic skills.

Quiz 4: Working Memory