Journal article
Working memory and handwriting and share a common resource: An investigation of shared attention
Current Psychology, Vol.42, pp.3945-3956
2023
Abstract
Working memory and writing share a common resource. The authors investigated whether increasing the complexity of a finger-tapping task while simultaneously performing a serial verbal recall task while writing would decrease performance for recall, writing fluency, and tapping speed. Participants completed three verbal serial recall tasks which incrementally increased attentional load. Participants recalled word lists after listening to words while, (1) producing pseudo-handwriting movements without finger tapping (no-tapping), (2) producing pseudo-handwriting movements while tapping with a single finger (single-tapping), (3) producing pseudo-handwriting movements while tapping with two fingers (double tapping). The results showed that the double tapping condition caused a decrease in performance for recall, handwriting fluency, and tapping speed compared to the no-tapping condition and the single tapping conditions. However, no differences occurred between the no-tapping condition and the single tapping conditions. The authors concluded that by incrementally increasing the complexity of a concurrent tapping task we can achieve a decrease in performance across multiple cognitive processes. The results provided support for a central pool of shared resources that are utilised by non-working memory tasks and those reliant on working memory. The observed decreases in cognitive performance were dependent on task complexity rather than just performing a secondary task. The findings have implications for how multi-tasking while taking notes is detrimental for memory retention and handwriting fluency.
Details
- Title
- Working memory and handwriting and share a common resource: An investigation of shared attention
- Authors
- Richard Tindle (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Health and Behavioural Sciences - LegacyMitchell G Longstaff (Author) - Southern Cross University
- Publication details
- Current Psychology, Vol.42, pp.3945-3956
- Publisher
- Springer New York LLC
- DOI
- 10.1007/s12144-021-01733-4
- Organisation Unit
- Indigenous and Transcultural Research Centre; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Health - Psychology; School of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Legacy
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99557707502621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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22 Record Views
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Web Of Science research areas
- Psychology, Multidisciplinary
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Source: InCites