Working Memory and Thinking: Current Issues In Thinking And Reasoning / Edition 1

by Kenneth Gilhooly, Robert H. Logie

Overview

Thinking and memory are inextricably linked. However, a "divide and rule" approach has led cognitive psychologists to study these two areas in relative isolation. With contributions from some of the leading international researchers on working memory and thinking, the present volume aims to break down the scientific divisions and foster scientific integration in the connections between these two core functions of cognition. Broadly defined, thinking comprises mentally driven change in current representations. The processes involved in such change include application of logical rules, heuristics, problem solving strategies, decision making, planning and comprehension of complex material. Memory involves the encoding, retention and retrieval of information, and the retention may be temporary or in a long-term knowledge base.; Thinking cannot occur in a vacuum; it relies on the long-term memory base and a temporary mental workspace. Despite the apparent limitations on mental workspace, humans can drive a car and hold a conversation, or store partial solutions while tackling other aspects of a problem. So too, some aspects of thinking are relatively resilient in the face of quite extensive brain damage, yet other aspects are remarkably vulnerable to neuroanatomical insults. Humans can solve complex problems with many alternative choice points and yet seem to be able to consider only a few hypotheses at any one time. These apparent paradoxes present significant scientific challenges as to how humans can be such successful thinkers despite their very limited working memory. The chapters herein represent a diversity of views as regards the nature or working memory and forms of human thinking. The links between working memory and thinking are directly addressed and made explicit, and in so doing this volume offers an increasingly integrated understanding of human thinking and memory.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781138877153
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	01/17/2019
Series:	Current Issues in Thinking and Reasoning
Pages:	180
Product dimensions:	6.12(w) x 9.19(h) x (d)

About the Author

Kenneth Gilhooly, Robert H. Logie

Table of Contents

List of contributors ix

1 Thinking in working memory Kenneth J. Gilhooly Robert H. Logie 1

References 5

2 Working memory, strategies, and reasoning tasks Kenneth J. Gilhooly 7

Introduction 7

Working memory in reasoning tasks: Empirical results 10

Working memory and strategies in reasoning: Bridging the gap 17

References 21

3 The role of working memory in age differences in reasoning Louise H. Phillips Mark J. Forshaw 23

Age differences in working memory 23

Age differences in reasoning 25

Methodological issues in examining the role of working memory in age differences in reasoning 26

Reasoning, working memory, and age 28

Conclusions 38

Acknowledgements 40

References 40

4 Dualism down the drain: Thinking in the brain Sergio Della Sola Robert H. Logie 45

The philosopher who lost his thoughts 45

Thinking as executive function 48

Neurological basis of thinking 49

Historical background of a neuropsychology of thinking 51

Cognitive models of executive function 55

Towards a cognitive architecture of "the thinker" 57

Acknowledgements 61

References 61

5 Working memory and comprehension Randall W. Engle Andrew R.A. Conway 67

The visuo-spatial sketch-pad and comprehension 69

Role of the phonological loop 71

Role of the central executive 81

Conclusion 88

References 89

6 Working memory and expert performance K. Anders Ericsson Peter F. Delaney 93

The search for basic memory capacity in the laboratory 95

Improved memory performance through training on tasks assumed to measure capacity of STM 97

Working memory in expert performance 103

General discussion and broader implications 110

Acknowledgement 111

References 111

7 Adversary problem-solving and working memory Pertti Saariluoma 115

Task analysis 115

Human error in adversary problem-solving 117

Problem-solving in adversary situations 118

The main functional characteristics of working memory 120

Working memory capacity and human errors 121

The functions of subsystems 122

Apperceptive errors and working memory: Speculations on the role of central executive 123

Co-operation of working memory and long-term memory 125

Information in retrieval structures 127

The speed of information access 129

Improving thinking by improving memory 130

Some practical perspectives on adversary problem-solving 132

Conclusions 133

References 135

8 Development of processing capacity entails representing more complex relations: Implications for cognitive development Graeme S. Halford 139

Conceptual complexity 140

Estimating processing capacity 143

Modelling the basis of capacity limitations 146

Age and dimensionality of representations 151

Capacity development 153

Assessing processing capacity 153

Conclusion 154

Acknowledgement 155

References 155

Author Index 159

Subject Index 164

Editorial Reviews

'The book is a useful resource for cognitive psychologists insofar as it gives a good account of current research in the area the editors of this book have succeeded in their aim of providing an integrated understanding of human thinking and memory.' - John T.E. Richardson, Brunel University in Neuropsychologia 38 2000

From the Publisher