title: Working-memory performance is related to spatial breadth of attention.
abstract: Working memory and attention are closely related constructs. Models of working memory often incorporate an attention component, and some even equate working memory and attentional control. Although some attention-related processes, including inhibitory control of response conflict and interference resolution, are strongly associated with working memory, for other aspects of attention the link is less clear. We examined the association between working-memory performance and attentional breadth, the ability to spread attention spatially. If the link between attention and working memory is broader than inhibitory and interference resolution processes, then working-memory performance might also be associated with other attentional abilities, including attentional breadth. We tested 123 participants on a variety of working-memory and attentional-breadth measures, finding a strong correlation between performances on these two types of tasks. This finding demonstrates that the link between working memory and attention extends beyond inhibitory processes.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cognitive and Team/Racket Sport Research, German Sport University Cologne, Am Sportpark Müngersdorf 6, 50933, Cologne, Germany. c.kreitz@dshs-koeln.de.
authors.forename: Carina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kreitz
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cognitive and Team/Racket Sport Research, German Sport University Cologne, Am Sportpark Müngersdorf 6, 50933, Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Furley
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cognitive and Team/Racket Sport Research, German Sport University Cologne, Am Sportpark Müngersdorf 6, 50933, Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Memmert
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana, 603 East Daniel Street, Champaign, IL, 61820, USA.
authors.forename: Daniel J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Simons
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001244:Association; D001288:Attention; D004192:Discrimination, Psychological; D005260:Female; D005364:Field Dependence-Independence; D006801:Humans; D007206:Individuality; D007266:Inhibition, Psychological; D008297:Male; D008570:Memory, Short-Term; D009949:Orientation; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D065853:Spatial Learning; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D055815:Young Adult