Response selection involves executive control: Evidence from the selective interference paradigm

Abstract

In the present study, we investigated whether response selection involves executive control, using the selective interference paradigm within Baddeley's (1986) working memory framework. The interference from response selection was estimated by comparing the patterns of dual-task interference of simple and choice RT tasks with those of a number of established working memory tasks. In Experiment 1, we compared impairment of forward and backward verbal serial recall from the RT tasks and articulatory suppression. Experiment 2 measured the adverse effects of the RT tasks and matrix tapping on forward and backward visuospatial serial recall. Finally, in Experiment 3, we examined the impairment from the RT tasks with two measures of executive control-namely, letter and category fluency. Altogether, the three experiments demonstrated that response selection interferes with executive control and that the interference is not produced at the level of working memory's slave systems, which supports the assumption of executive involvement in response selection.

The role of working memory in the carry operation of mental arithmetic: Number and value of the carry

“…In this task, a random sequence of low and high tones is presented at a random rate, and the participants are required to respond quickly by a corresponding keypress to each tone. Szmalec, Vandierendonck, and Kemps (2005) report a series of experiments showing that this task creates a moderate executive load while the effects of this load are dissociated from the effects of operations known to affect the slave systems in the model of Baddeley and Hitch (1974). The usefulness of the task has meanwhile been confirmed in several studies with mental arithmetic (e.g., Deschuyteneer & Vandierendonck, 2005a, 2005bDeschuyteneer, Vandierendonck, & Muyllaert, in press;Imbo, Vandierendonck, & Vergauwe, in press).…”

“…The duration of each tone was 200 ms. In a series of experiments, Szmalec et al (2005) have shown that this task taxes executive functioning, while the load on the subordinate workingmemory systems is negligible.…”

“…In both cases, retrieval of an outcome from long-term memory is required. Although some theorists seem to assume that retrieval is an automatic process, it is more likely that memory retrieval requires cognitive control (Barrouillet, Bernardin, & Camos, 2004;Deschuyteneer & Vandierendonck, 2005a, 2005bSzmalec et al, 2005). Therefore, in addition to the maintenance of the interim results and the sequencing and control of the successive calculation steps, working memory is also involved in retrieval of the outcome.…”

Cultural differences in complex addition: Efficient Chinese versus adaptive Belgians and Canadians.

“…The tones were presented continuously during the complex arithmetic task. Szmalec, Vandierendonck, and Kemps (2005) have shown that this task interferes with the central executive, while the load on the slave systems is negligible. The CRT task was also performed alone (i.e., without the concurrent solving of arithmetic problems) for 2 minutes.…”

Working Memory, Strategy Execution, and Strategy Selection in Mental Arithmetic

“…In the latter condition, working memory was loaded by means of a Choice Reaction Time task (CRT task), where participants have to decide whether randomly presented tones are high or low. This task has been shown to interfere with executive functions of working memory, but not to tax slave systems of working memory (i.e., the phonological loop and the visuo-spatial sketch pad; Szmalec, Vandierendonck, & Kemps, 2005;Vandierendonck, De Vooght, & Van der Goten, 1998a, 1998bsee Schunn, Lovett, & Reder, 2001, for an analogous task). In particular, the CRT task affects the executive functions "input monitoring" (as the sequence of tones is unpredictable) and "decision making" (as participants have to decide whether the tone is high or low).…”