Modeling working memory: an interference model of complex span.
This article introduces a new computational model for the complex-span task, the most popular task for studying working memory. SOB-CS is a two-layer neural network that associates distributed item representations with distributed, overlapping position markers. Memory capacity limits are explained by interference from a superposition of associations. Concurrent processing interferes with memory through involuntary encoding of distractors. Free time in-between distractors is used to remove irrelevant representations, thereby reducing interference. The model accounts for benchmark findings in four areas: (1) effects of processing pace, processing difficulty, and number of processing steps; (2) effects of serial position and error patterns; (3) effects of different kinds of item-distractor similarity; and (4) correlations between span tasks. The model makes several new predictions in these areas, which were confirmed experimentally.
Department of Psychology-Cognitive Psychology, University of Zurich, Binzmühlestrasse 14/22, 8050 Zürich, Switzerland. k.oberauer@psychologie.uzh.ch
Klaus
K
Oberauer
Stephan
S
Lewandowsky
Simon
S
Farrell
Christopher
C
Jarrold
Martin
M
Greaves
D001288:Attention; D006801:Humans; D008570:Memory, Short-Term; D011939:Mental Recall; D008960:Models, Psychological; D016571:Neural Networks, Computer; D011930:Reaction Time