Evidence for separate backward recall and n-back working memory factors: A large-scale latent variable analysis

Byrne, Elizabeth M. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5018-5643, Gilbert, Rebecca A., Kievit, Rogier A. and Holmes, Joni ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6821-2793 (2024) Evidence for separate backward recall and n-back working memory factors: A large-scale latent variable analysis. Memory, 32 (9). pp. 1182-1198. ISSN 0965-8211

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Abstract

Multiple studies have explored the factor structure of working memory (WM) tasks, yet few have done so controlling for both the domain and category of the memory items in a single study. In the current pre-registered study, we conducted a large-scale latent variable analysis using variant forms of n-back and backward recall tasks to test whether they measured a single underlying construct, or were distinguished by stimuli-, domain-, or paradigm-specific factors. Exploratory analyses investigated how the resulting WM factor(s) were linked to fluid intelligence. Participants (N = 703) completed a fluid reasoning test and multiple n-back and backward recall tasks containing memoranda that varied across (spatial or verbal material) and within (verbal digits or letters) domain, allowing the variance specific to task content and paradigm to be assessed. Two distinct but related backward recall and n-back constructs best captured the data, in comparison to other plausible model constructions (single WM factor, two-factor domain, and three-factor materials models). Common variance associated with WM was a stronger predictor of fluid reasoning than a residual n-back factor, but the backward recall factor predicted fluid reasoning as strongly as the common WM factor. These data emphasise the distinctiveness between backward recall and n-back tasks.

Item Type: Article
Additional Information: Data sharing and data accessibility: The preregistration, dataset, and analysis code are freely available on the Open Science Framework: https://osf.io/9qarp/. Funding information: This work was supported by a PhD studentship awarded to Elizabeth M. Byrne by the MRC Cognition & Brain Sciences Unit, University of Cambridge, UK, and funded by the Medical Research Council, UK.
Uncontrolled Keywords: 3*,large sample, theoretically important ,/dk/atira/pure/researchoutput/REFrank/3_
Faculty \ School: Faculty of Social Sciences > School of Psychology
UEA Research Groups: Faculty of Social Sciences > Research Groups > Cognition, Action and Perception
Faculty of Social Sciences > Research Groups > Developmental Science
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Depositing User: LivePure Connector
Date Deposited: 27 Aug 2024 12:30
Last Modified: 11 Oct 2024 19:30
URI: https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/96355
DOI: 10.1080/09658211.2024.2393388

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