Year: 2014
Type: article
Abstract: Working Memory and Crystallized Knowledge in Visual Analogy Robert G. Morrison Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA Matthew Kmiecik Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA Jessica L. Irwin Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA Nash Unsworth University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, USA Lara L. Jones Wayne State University, Detroit, MI USA Abstract: Developmental, neuropsychological, and computational studies have suggested the importance of both relational knowledge and working memory in analogical reasoning. In this study, we investigated the extent to which individual differ- ences in working memory (WM) and crystallized knowledge (Gc) predicted accuracies on a visual analogy verification task. In the task participants were asked to compare geometric shapes varying in several parametric dimensions (Sweis, Bharani, & Morrison, 2012). Across problems we varied the problem difficulty by factorially manipulating relational complexity and relational distraction. As in many studies of matrix reasoning, both WM and Gc composite measures were reliably correlated with overall visual analogy performance. However, only WM, but not Gc, predicted the effect of relational complexity on visual analogy performance. We believe these results further confirm the importance of working memory as a distinct neurocognitive resource necessary for processing relationally complex analogies.
Authors: Robert Morrison, Matthew J. Kmiecik, Jessica L. Irwin, Nash Unsworth, Lara L. Jones
Language: English
Subfield: Experimental and Cognitive Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2397322217