scholarly journals EXPRESS: Consequences of Cognitive Offloading: Boosting Performance But Diminishing Memory

2021 ◽  
pp. 174702182110080
Author(s):  
Sandra Grinschgl ◽  
Frank Papenmeier ◽  
Hauke S. Meyerhoff
Keyword(s):  
Task Performance ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Memory Performance ◽  
Memory Test ◽  
Long Term Memory ◽  
Memory Representations ◽  
Long Term Consequences ◽  
Cognitive Offloading ◽  
The Relationship

Modern technical tools such as tablets allow for the temporal externalization of working memory processes (i.e. cognitive offloading). Although such externalizations support immediate performance on different tasks, little is known about potential long-term consequences of offloading behavior. In the current set of experiments, we studied the relationship between cognitive offloading and subsequent memory for the offloaded information as well as the interplay of this relationship with the goal to acquire new memory representations. Our participants solved the Pattern Copy Task, in which we manipulated the costs of cognitive offloading and the awareness of a subsequent memory test. In Experiment 1 (N = 172), we showed that increasing the costs for offloading induces reduced offloading behavior. This reduction in offloading came along with lower immediate task performance but more accurate memory in an unexpected test. In Experiment 2 (N = 172), we confirmed these findings and observed that offloading behavior remained detrimental for subsequent memory performance when participants were aware of the upcoming memory test. Interestingly, Experiment 3 (N = 172) showed that cognitive offloading is not detrimental for long-term memory formation under all circumstances. Those participants who were forced to offload maximally but were aware of the memory test could almost completely counteract the negative impact of offloading on memory. Our experiments highlight the importance of the explicit goal to acquire new memory representations when relying on technical tools as offloading did have detrimental effects on memory without such a goal.

scholarly journals Consequences of Cognitive Offloading: Boosting Performance But Diminishing Memory

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandra Grinschgl ◽  
Frank Papenmeier ◽  
Hauke S. Meyerhoff
Keyword(s):  
Task Performance ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Memory Performance ◽  
Memory Test ◽  
Memory Representations ◽  
Memory Acquisition ◽  
Long Term Consequences ◽  
Cognitive Offloading ◽  
The Relationship

Modern technical tools such as tablets allow for the temporal externalization of working memory processes (i.e. cognitive offloading). Although such externalizations support immediate performance on different tasks, little is known about potential long-term consequences of offloading behavior. In the current set of experiments, we studied the relationship between cognitive offloading and subsequent memory for the offloaded information as well as the interplay of this relationship with the goal to acquire new memory representations. Our participants solved the Pattern Copy Task, in which we manipulated the costs of cognitive offloading and the awareness of a subsequent memory test. In Experiment 1 (N = 172), we showed that increasing the costs for offloading induces reduced offloading behavior. This reduction in offloading came along with lower immediate task performance but more accurate memory in an unexpected test. In Experiment 2 (N = 172), we confirmed these findings and observed that offloading behavior remained detrimental for subsequent memory performance when participants were aware of the upcoming memory test. Experiment 3 (N = 172) additionally showed that resources released by cognitive offloading are not necessarily “lost”. Those participants who were forced to offload maximally but were aware of the memory test could almost completely counteract the negative impact of offloading on memory. Therefore, cognitive offloading is not detrimental to memory acquisition under all circumstances. Our experiments highlight the importance of the explicit goal to acquire new memory representations when relying on technical tools as offloading did have detrimental effects on memory without such a goal.

scholarly journals I remember it now, so I'll remember it later: Working Memory Representations Guide Inaccurate Predictions of Future Memory Performance

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julia Krasnoff ◽  
Alessandra S. Souza
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Memory Performance ◽  
Memory Systems ◽  
Memory Test ◽  
Sequence Length ◽  
Long Term Memory ◽  
Memory Strength ◽  
Term Memory ◽  
Memory Representations

Making accurate predictions of future memory performance (Judgements of Learning; JOLs) is a prerequisite for efficient learning. Since decades, those JOLs are assumed to be made inferentially, based on cues. This cue-utilization approach substituted the idea that JOLs are directly linked to memory quality. We criticize the reasons for the rejection of this memory-strength hypothesis because they ignore the existence of two different memory systems: working memory which holds representations immediately accessible, and long-term memory which is a more permanent store. Considering both memory systems, the current work revisited the memory-strength hypothesis: In Experiment 1, participants memorized sequences of two or four colored objects, then they provided JOLs for a long-term memory test, and performed a working memory test on the objects’ colors. After learning 200 objects, the long-term memory test on all studied objects followed. Sequence-length affected working memory, but not long-term memory performance. JOLs, however, were higher for sequences of two than four and correlated higher with working memory than long-term memory performance. Experiment 2 replicated the sequence-length effect on JOLs in the absence of a working memory test. Results of a sequence-eight condition revealed an increase in JOLs’ accuracy when the number of studied objects exceeded working memory span. Contrary to predominant theories, our findings suggest that JOLs are based on the quality of memory representations.

scholarly journals Stress impacts the fidelity but not strength of emotional memories

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maheen Shermohammed ◽  
Juliet Y. Davidow ◽  
Leah Somerville ◽  
Vishnu Murty
Keyword(s):  
Memory Performance ◽  
Emotional Memory ◽  
False Alarms ◽  
Long Term Memory ◽  
Memory Representation ◽  
Correct Identification ◽  
Open Questions ◽  
Memory Representations ◽  
Stress Influences

Psychological stress during memory encoding influences resulting memory representations. However, open questions remain regarding how stress interacts with emotional memory. This interaction has mainly been studied by characterizing the correct identification of previously observed material (memory “hits”), with few studies investigating how stress influences the incorrect endorsement of unobserved material as remembered (memory “false alarms”). While hits can provide information about the presence or strength of a memory representation, false alarms provide insight into the fidelity of those representations, indicating to what extent stored memories are confused with similar information presented at retrieval. This study examined the effects of stress on long-term memory for negative and neutral images, considering the separate contributions of hits and false alarms. Participants viewed images after repeated exposure to either a stress or a control manipulation. Stress impaired memory performance for negative pictures and enhanced memory performance for neutral pictures. These effects were driven by false alarms rather than hits: stressed participants false alarmed more often for negative and less often for neutral images. These data suggest that stress undermines the benefits of emotion on memory by changing individuals’ susceptibility towards false alarms, and highlight the need to consider both memory strength and fidelity to characterize differences in memory performance.

scholarly journals Sustained Attention and Spatial Attention Distinctly Influence Long-term Memory Encoding

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-17
Author(s):  
Megan T. deBettencourt ◽  
Stephanie D. Williams ◽  
Edward K. Vogel ◽  
Edward Awh
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Attention ◽  
Sustained Attention ◽  
Memory Performance ◽  
Stimulus Onset ◽  
Long Term Memory ◽  
Attention And Memory ◽  
Memory Encoding ◽  
Term Memory ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract Our attention is critically important for what we remember. Prior measures of the relationship between attention and memory, however, have largely treated “attention” as a monolith. Here, across three experiments, we provide evidence for two dissociable aspects of attention that influence encoding into long-term memory. Using spatial cues together with a sensitive continuous report procedure, we find that long-term memory response error is affected by both trial-by-trial fluctuations of sustained attention and prioritization via covert spatial attention. Furthermore, using multivariate analyses of EEG, we track both sustained attention and spatial attention before stimulus onset. Intriguingly, even during moments of low sustained attention, there is no decline in the representation of the spatially attended location, showing that these two aspects of attention have robust but independent effects on long-term memory encoding. Finally, sustained and spatial attention predicted distinct variance in long-term memory performance across individuals. That is, the relationship between attention and long-term memory suggests a composite model, wherein distinct attentional subcomponents influence encoding into long-term memory. These results point toward a taxonomy of the distinct attentional processes that constrain our memories.

scholarly journals Human sensory Long-Term Potentiation (LTP) predicts visual memory performance and is modulated by the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) Val66Met polymorphism

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.J. Spriggs ◽  
C.S. Thompson ◽  
D Moreau ◽  
N.A. McNair ◽  
C.C. Wu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Visual Memory ◽  
Memory Performance ◽  
Memory Function ◽  
Human Memory ◽  
Long Term Potentiation ◽  
Long Term Memory ◽  
Term Memory ◽  
Term Potentiation ◽  
The Relationship

BackgroundLong-Term Potentiation (LTP) is recognised as a core neuronal process underlying long-term memory. However, a direct relationship between LTP and human memory performance is yet to be demonstrated. The first aim of the current study was thus to assess the relationship between LTP and human long-term memory performance. With this also comes an opportunity to explore factors thought to mediate the relationship between LTP and long-term memory, and to gain additional insight into variations in memory function and memory decline. The second aim of the current study was to explore the relationship between LTP and memory in groups differing with respect to BDNF Val66Met; a single nucleotide polymorphism implicated in memory function.Methods28 participants (15 female) were split into three genotype groups (Val/Val, Val/Met, Met/Met) and were presented with both an EEG paradigm for inducing LTP-like enhancements of the visually-evoked response, and a test of visual memory.ResultsThe magnitude of LTP 40 minutes after induction was predictive of long-term memory performance. Additionally, the BDNF Met allele was associated with both reduced LTP and reduced memory performance.ConclusionsThe current study not only presents the first evidence for a relationship between sensory LTP and human memory performance, but also demonstrates how targeting this relationship can provide insight into factors implicated in variation in human memory performance. It is anticipated that this will be of utility to future clinical studies of disrupted memory function.

Long-Term Memory for Haptically Explored Objects: Fidelity, Durability, Incidental Encoding, and Cross-Modal Transfer

2018 ◽  
Vol 29 (12) ◽  
pp. 2031-2038 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fabian Hutmacher ◽  
Christof Kuhbandner
Keyword(s):  
Visual Memory ◽  
Haptic Perception ◽  
Memory Test ◽  
Long Term Memory ◽  
Term Memory ◽  
Everyday Objects ◽  
Memory Representations ◽  
Incidental Encoding ◽  
Basic Level

The question of how many of our perceptual experiences are stored in long-term memory has received considerable attention. The present study examined long-term memory for haptic experiences. Blindfolded participants haptically explored 168 everyday objects (e.g., a pen) for 10 s each. In a blindfolded memory test, they indicated which of two objects from the same basic-level category (e.g., two different pens) had been touched before. As shown in Experiment 1 ( N = 26), memory was nearly perfect when tested immediately after exploration (94%) and still high when tested after 1 week (85%). As shown in Experiment 2 ( N = 43), when participants explored the objects without the intention to memorize them, memory in a 1-week delayed surprise test was still high (79%), even when assessed with a cross-modal visual memory test (73%). These results indicate that detailed, durable, long-term memory representations are stored as a natural product of haptic perception.

“The Weight of Our Household Rests on My Shoulders”: Inequity in Family Work

2019 ◽  
Vol 41 (8) ◽  
pp. 1258-1281
Author(s):  
Jocelyn M. DeGroot ◽  
Tennley A. Vik
Keyword(s):  
Social Justice ◽  
Lived Experiences ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Equity Theory ◽  
Romantic Partners ◽  
Family Work ◽  
Invisible Work ◽  
Long Term Consequences ◽  
The Relationship

This study explores gendered work imbalance, particularly pertaining to parenthood, and posits a social justice perspective with equity theory. Participants for this study were mothers who disclosed their lived experiences with family workload and inequity in an online, open-ended survey. Findings reinforce previous literature, indicating that there is an imbalance in equity between heterosexual romantic partners, and that mothers are overworked and undervalued, as the invisible work completed daily creates an imbalance in the relationship. This imbalance has a negative impact on the relationship and can have long-term consequences when no means of restoring equity is in sight.

scholarly journals Sustained attention and spatial attention distinctly influence long-term memory encoding

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Megan T. deBettencourt ◽  
Stephanie D. Williams ◽  
Edward K. Vogel ◽  
Edward Awh
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Attention ◽  
Sustained Attention ◽  
Memory Performance ◽  
Stimulus Onset ◽  
Long Term Memory ◽  
Attention And Memory ◽  
Memory Encoding ◽  
Term Memory ◽  
The Relationship

AbstractOur attention is critically important for what we remember. Prior measures of the relationship between attention and memory, however, have largely treated “attention” as a monolith. Here, across three experiments, we provide evidence for two dissociable aspects of attention that influence encoding into long-term memory. Using spatial cues together with a sensitive continuous report procedure, we find that long-term memory response error is affected by both trial-by-trial fluctuations of sustained attention and prioritization via covert spatial attention. Furthermore, using multivariate analyses of EEG, we track both sustained attention and spatial attention prior to stimulus onset. Intriguingly, even during moments of low sustained attention, there is no decline in the representation of the spatially attended location, showing that these two aspects of attention have robust but independent effects on long term memory encoding. Finally, sustained and spatial attention predicted distinct variance in long-term memory performance across individuals. That is, the relationship between attention and long-term memory suggests a composite model, wherein distinct attentional subcomponents influence encoding into long-term memory. These results point towards a taxonomy of the distinct attentional processes that constrain our memories.

scholarly journals Visual Long-term Memory Can Replace Active Maintenance in Visual Working Memory

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark W. Schurgin ◽  
Corbin A. Cunningham ◽  
Howard E. Egeth ◽  
Timothy F. Brady
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Memory Performance ◽  
Memory Task ◽  
Perceptual Information ◽  
Long Term Memory ◽  
Term Memory ◽  
Perceptual Interference ◽  
New Information ◽  
Memory Representations

AbstractHumans have remarkable visual long-term memory abilities, capable of storing thousands of objects with significant detail. However, it remains unknown how such memory is utilized during the short-term maintenance of information. Specifically, if people have a previously encoded memory for an item, how does this affect subsequent working memory for that same item? Here, we demonstrate people can quickly and accurately make use of visual long-term memories and therefore maintain less perceptual information actively in working memory. We assessed how much perceptual information is actively maintained in working memory by measuring neural activity during the delay period of a working memory task using electroencephalography. We find that despite maintaining less perceptual information in working memory when long-term memory representations are available, there is no decrement in memory performance. This suggests under certain circumstances people can dynamically disengage working memory maintenance and instead use long-term memories when available. However, this does not mean participants always utilize long-term memory. In a follow-up experiment, we introduced additional perceptual interference into working memory and found participants actively maintained items in working memory even when they had existing long-term memories available. These results clarify the kinds of conditions under which long-term and working memory operate. Specifically, working memory is engaged when new information is encountered or perceptual interference is high. Visual long-term memory may otherwise be rapidly accessed and utilized in lieu of active perceptual maintenance. These data demonstrate the interactions between working memory and long-term memory are more dynamic and fluid than previously thought.

Memory, Attention, and Inductive Learning

1999 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-48 ◽  
Author(s):  
John N. Williams
Keyword(s):  
Learning Outcomes ◽  
Memory Performance ◽  
Inductive Learning ◽  
Memory Task ◽  
Long Term Memory ◽  
Continuous Measure ◽  
Functional Categories ◽  
Early Memory ◽  
The Relationship

Three experiments investigated the relationship between memory for input and inductive learning of morphological rules relating to functional categories in a semiartificial form of Italian. A verbatim memory task was used as both the vehicle for presenting sentences and as a continuous measure of memory performance. Experiments 2 and 3 introduced increasingly explicit manipulations of attention to form compared to Experiment 1. In all experiments there were strong relationships between individual differences in memory for input as measured early in the experiment and eventual learning outcomes, and in Experiments 2 and 3 learning form-form (but not form-function) rules was related to vocabulary learning efficiency (taken as a measure of phonological long-term memory ability). These relationships along with the lack of an effect of feedback in Experiment 3 suggest that subjects tended to adopt a data-driven, as opposed to conceptually driven, mode of learning. However, the fact that the introduction of highlighting and vocabulary pretraining in Experiment 2 had a large impact on learning without improving early memory is taken to suggest that knowledge of distributional rules does not simply emerge out of memory encodings of the relevant forms but depends upon the appropriate allocation of attention over relationships between input elements at the time of encoding.

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