Assessment of Working Memory Performance in Self-Ordered Selection Tests

• Published in: Cortex Vol. 43; no. 8; pp. 1047 - 1056
• Main Author: Gillett, Raphael
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Italy Elsevier Srl 01.11.2007
• Subjects: Computer Simulation; Corsi blocks; Humans; Memory, Short-Term - physiology; Models, Neurological; Models, Statistical; multiple-location search task; Neuropsychological Tests; occupancy model; Software; subject-ordered pointing task; visuo-spatial performance; working memory; multiple-location search task; visuo-spatial performance; working memory; occupancy model; subject-ordered pointing task; Corsi blocks
• ISSN: 0010-9452; 1973-8102
• DOI: 10.1016/S0010-9452(08)70702-0

Several well-known neuropsychological tests of working memory performance, hitherto thought to be unrelated, in fact share a common structure termed here the self-ordered selection paradigm. Examples include the subject-ordered pointing task, variants of the Corsi blocks test, the multiple-location search task, and the letter-recitation task. The defining features of the paradigm are outlined. A statistical framework for assessing and testing hypotheses about working memory capacity in the self-ordered selection paradigm is described. To enable neuropsychologists to conduct a rapid statistical analysis of working memory performance, a computer program is presented along with detailed practical examples of three useful statistical procedures for both single-case and group-based analysis. The program may be accessed and executed online over the Internet.