Variation in Working Memory

Working memory-the ability to keep important information in mind while comprehending, thinking, and doing-changes dramatically over the life span and varies considerably from person to person at a given age. Understanding such individual and developmental differences is crucial because working memory is a key contributor to general intellectual functioning. It has been demonstrated to be relevant to many everyday tasks, such as reading, making sense of spoken discourse, problem solving, and mental arithmetic. As such, it is the focus of considerable research efforts in cognitive psychology and cognitive neuroscience. This research has wide-ranging implications for our general understanding of cognitive processes in a variety of populations and settings.

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Keywords: Working memory, thinking, individual, developmental differences, problem solving