Distinguishing short-term memory from working memory.
The aim of the present research was to determine whether short-term memory and working memory could be distinguished. In two studies, 7- to 13-year-olds (N = 155, N = 132) were administered tasks thought to assess short-term memory as well as tasks thought to assess working memory. Both exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses distinguished short-term memory tasks from working memory tasks. In addition, performance on working memory tasks was related to word decoding skill but performance on short-term memory tasks was not. Finally, performance on both short-term memory and working memory tasks were associated with age-related increases in processing speed. Results are discussed in relation to models of short-term and working memory.
University of Maryland, College Park, USA. rkail@sla.purdue.edu
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D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D003071:Cognition; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008037:Linguistics; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory; D008570:Memory, Short-Term; D008960:Models, Psychological; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D011930:Reaction Time; D021641:Recognition, Psychology