title: Measuring working memory capacity with greater precision in the lower capacity ranges.
abstract: Working memory capacity is usually measured as the number of stimuli correctly remembered. However, these measures lack precision when assessing individuals with low capacity. This study aimed to create a more precise measure of visuospatial working memory capacity, using intra-level differences in difficulty between items. In two experiments, children aged 4-6 years (N = 97) were tested on a large number of items. Data showed a large variability of difficulty within each level and the factors contributing to this variability were identified. This variability can be used to provide a precise measure of working memory capacity in the lower ranges.
authors.affiliation: Neuropaediatric Research Unit, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Stockholm Brain Institute, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. sissela.bergman@ki.se
authors.forename: Sissela Bergman
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Nutley
authors.forename: Stina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Söderqvist
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bryde
authors.forename: Keith
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Humphreys
authors.forename: Torkel
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Klingberg
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008570:Memory, Short-Term / Q000502:physiology*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests