title: Contrasting single and multi-component working-memory systems in dual tasking.
abstract: Working memory can be a major source of interference in dual tasking. However, there is no consensus on whether this interference is the result of a single working memory bottleneck, or of interactions between different working memory components that together form a complete working-memory system. We report a behavioral and an fMRI dataset in which working memory requirements are manipulated during multitasking. We show that a computational cognitive model that assumes a distributed version of working memory accounts for both behavioral and neuroimaging data better than a model that takes a more centralized approach. The model's working memory consists of an attentional focus, declarative memory, and a subvocalized rehearsal mechanism. Thus, the data and model favor an account where working memory interference in dual tasking is the result of interactions between different resources that together form a working-memory system.
authors: Dept. of Artificial Intelligence, University of Groningen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: menno.nijboer@gmail.com.
authors: Menno
authors: M
authors: Nijboer
authors: Dept. of Artificial Intelligence, University of Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors: Jelmer
authors: J
authors: Borst
authors: Dept. of Psychology, University of Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors: Hedderik
authors: H
authors: van Rijn
authors: Dept. of Artificial Intelligence, University of Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors: Niels
authors: N
authors: Taatgen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention; D003071:Cognition; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008570:Memory, Short-Term; D008960:Models, Psychological; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: ACT-R; Cognitive modeling; Interference; Multitasking; Threaded cognition; Working memory