Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The reaction-time task-rule congruency effect is not affected by working memory load: further support for the activated long-term memory hypothesis

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Psychological Research PRPF Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Previous studies claimed that task representation is carried out by the activated long-term memory portion of working memory (WM; Meiran and Kessler in J Exp Psychol Human Percept Perform 34:137–157, 2008). The present study provides a more direct support for this hypothesis. We used the reaction-time task-rule congruency effect (RT-TRCE) in a task-switching setup, and tested the effects of loading WM with irrelevant task rules on RT-TRCE. Experiment 1 manipulated WM load in a between-subject design. WM participants performed a color/shape task switching, while having 0, 1 or 3 numerical task rules as WM load. Experiment 2 used a similar load manipulation (1 or 3 rules to load WM) in a within-subject design. Experiment 3 extended these results by loading WM with perceptual tasks that were more similar to the shape/color tasks. The results show that RT-TRCE was not affected by WM load supporting the activated long-term memory hypothesis.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Allport, A., Styles, E. A., & Hsieh, S. (1994). Shifting intentional set: Exploring the dynamic control of tasks. In C. Umilta, & M. Moscovitch (Eds.) Attention and performance XV (pp. 421–452). Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.

  • Altmann, E. M., & Gray, W. D. (2008). An integrated model of cognitive control in task switching. Psychological Review, 115, 602–639.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Baddeley, A., Chincotta, D., & Adlam, A. (2001). Working memory and the control of action: evidence from task switching. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 130, 641–657.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baddeley, A. D., & Hitch, G. (1974). Working memory. In G. H. Bower (Ed.), Recent advances in learning and motivation, Vol. 8 (pp. 47–90). New York: Academic Press.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Bryck, R. L., & Mayr, U. (2005). On the role of verbalization during task set selection: Switching or serial order control? Memory & Cognition, 33, 611–623.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cohen-Kdoshay, O., & Meiran, N. (2007). The representation of instructions in working memory leads to autonomous response activation: Evidence from the first trials in the flanker paradigm. Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology, 60:1140–1154

    Google Scholar 

  • Cohen-Kdoshay, O., & Meiran, N. (2009). The representation of instructions operates like a prepared reflex: Flanker compatibility effects that are found in the first trial following S–R instructions. Experimental Psychology, 56, 128–133.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cowan, N. (1988). Evolving conceptions of memory storage, selective attention, and their mutual constraints within the human information-processing system. Psychological Bulletin, 104, 163–191.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cowan, N. (1999). An embedded-processes model of working memory. In A. Miyake & P. Shah (Eds.), Models of working memory: Mechanisms of active maintenance and executive control. New York: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Duncan, J., Parr, A., Woolgar, A., Thompson, R., Bright, P., Cox, S., et al. (2008). Goal neglect and Spearman’s g: Competing parts of a complex task. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 137, 131–148.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ellenbogen, R., & Meiran, N. (2008). Working memory involvement in dual task performance: Evidence from the backward compatibility effect. Memory & Cognition, 36, 968–978.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Emerson, M. J., & Miyake, A. (2003). The role of inner speech in task switching: A dual-task investigation. Journal of Memory and Language, 48, 148–168.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eriksen, B., & Eriksen, C. (1974). Effects of noise letters upon the identification of a target letter in a nonsearch task. Perception & Psychophysics, 16, 143–149.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goschke, T. (2000). Intentional reconfiguration and involuntary persistence in task-set switching. In S. Monsell & J. Driver (Eds.), Attention and performance XVIII: Control of cognitive processes (pp. 331–355). Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hommel, B. (1998). Automatic stimulus-response translation in dual-task performance. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance, 24, 1368–1384.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hommel, B., & Eglau, B. (2002). Control of stimulus–response translation in dual-task performance. Psychological Research, 66, 260–273.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kiesel, A., Wendt, M., & Peters, A. (2007). Task switching: On the origins of response congruency effects. Psychological Research, 71, 117–125.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Liefooghe, B., Barrouillet, P., Vandierendonck, A., & Camos, V. (2008). Working memory costs of task switching. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition, 34, 478–494.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Logan, G. D. (2004). Working memory, task switching, and executive control in the task span procedure. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 133, 218–236.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mayr, U., & Keele, S. W. (2000). Changing internal constraints on action: The role of backward inhibition. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 129, 4–26.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mayr, U., & Kliegl, R. (2000). Task-set switching and long-term memory retrieval. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition, 26, 1124–1140.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Meiran, N. (1996). Reconfiguration of processing mode prior to task performance. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition, 22, 1423–1442.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meiran, N., & Daichman, A. (2005). Advance task preparation reduces task error rate in the cueing task-switching paradigm. Memory and Cognition, 33, 1272–1288.

    Google Scholar 

  • Meiran, N., & Kessler, Y. (2008). The task rule congruency effect in task switching reflects activated long-term memory. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance, 34, 137–157.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Meiran, N., Kessler, Y., & Adi-Japha, E. (2008). Control by action representation and input selection (CARIS): A theoretical framework for task switching. Psychological Research, 72, 473–500.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Miyake, A., Emerson, M. J., Padilla, F., & Ahn, J. (2004). Inner speech as a retrieval aid for task goals: The effects of cue type and articulatory suppression in the random task cuing paradigm. Acta Psychologica, 115, 123–142.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Miyake, A., & Shah, P. (1999). Models of working memory: Mechanisms of active maintenance and executive control. New York: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Oberauer, K. (2001). Removing irrelevant information from working memory: A cognitive aging study with the modified Sternberg task. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition, 27, 948–957.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Oberauer, K. (2002). Access to information in working memory: Exploring the focus of attention. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition, 28, 411–421.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Oberauer, K. (2009). Design for a working memory. The Psychology of Learning and Motivation, 51:45–100

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rubinstein, J. S., Meyer, D. E., & Evans, J. E. (2001). Executive control of cognitive processes in task switching. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance, 27, 763–797.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Saeki, E., & Saito, S. (2004). Effect of articulatory suppression on task-switching performance: Implications for models of working memory. Memory, 12, 257–271.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Schneider, W., Eschman, A., & Zuccolotto, A. (2002). E-Prime User’s Guide. Pittsburgh: Psychology Software Tools.

    Google Scholar 

  • Verhaeghen, P., Cerella, J., & Basak, C. (2004). A working memory workout: How to expand the focus of attention from one to four items in 10 hours or less. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition, 30, 1322–1337.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Waszak, F., Wenke, D., & Brass, M. (2008). Crosstalk of instructed and applied arbitrary visuomotor mappings. Acta Psychologica, 127, 30–35.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wendt, M., & Kiesel, A. (2008). The impact of stimulus-specific practice and task instructions on response congruency effects between tasks. Psychological Research, 72, 425–432.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Woltz, D. J., & Was, C. A. (2007). Available but unattended conceptual information in working memory: Temporarily active semantic content or persistent memory for prior operations? Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition, 33, 155–168.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Yehene, E., Meiran, N., & Soroker, N. (2005). Task alternation cost without task alternation: Measuring intentionality. Neuropsychologia, 43, 1858–1869.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The research was supported by a Grant to the second author from the Israel Science Foundation. We thank Shirley Dorchin, Ami Braverman and Iddo Maayan for running Experiments 1 and 2 and Anat Karmon for running Experiment 3.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, 84105, Beer-Sheva, Israel

    Yoav Kessler & Nachshon Meiran

  2. Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Health, 3560 Bathurst St, Toronto, ON, M6A 2E1, Canada

    Yoav Kessler

Authors
  1. Yoav Kessler
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Nachshon Meiran
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yoav Kessler.

Appendix

Appendix

See Table 2.

Table 2 RT and PE means by condition, in Experiments 1–3
Full size table

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kessler, Y., Meiran, N. The reaction-time task-rule congruency effect is not affected by working memory load: further support for the activated long-term memory hypothesis. Psychological Research 74, 388–399 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00426-009-0261-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00426-009-0261-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation