How do intentions modulate the effect of working memory on long-term memory?

• Published in: Psychonomic bulletin & review Vol. 31; no. 2; pp. 790 - 801
• Main Authors: Labaronne, Maximilien, Ferreri, Laura, Plancher, Gaën
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01-04-2024; Psychonomic Society
• Subjects: Adult; Behavioral Science and Psychology; Brief Report; Cognitive Psychology; Female; Humanities and Social Sciences; Humans; Intention; Male; Memory, Long-Term - physiology; Memory, Short-Term - physiology; Mental Recall - physiology; Psychology; Young Adult; Long-term memory; Intention; Working memory; Reward; reward; working memory long-term memory intention reward; working memory; long-term memory; intention
• ISSN: 1069-9384; 1531-5320
• DOI: 10.3758/s13423-023-02381-4

Previous studies found that working memory maintenance contributes to long-term memory formation, and some evidence suggests that this effect could be larger when individuals are informed of the final long-term memory test. However, no study so far has explored whether and how working memory maintenance adapts when long-term retention is intentional. In this study, we conducted two experiments using verbal complex span tasks followed by delayed-recall tests. In both experiments, we evaluated working memory maintenance by varying the cognitive load of the concurrent task and with memory strategies reports. We manipulated intentions to remember at long term by warning participants of the final delayed recall or not (Experiment 1) or by monetarily rewarding immediate or delayed-recall performance (Experiment 2). We found no evidence that intentions changed the working memory maintenance mechanisms and strategies used, yet the cognitive load (Experiment 1) and rewards (Experiment 2) effects on delayed recalls were increased with a higher intention to remember at long term. We discuss possible interpretations for these results and suggest that the effect of intentions may not be due to a change in the kind of maintenance mechanisms used. As our results cannot be explained solely by encoding or maintenance processes, we instead propose that intentions produce a combined change in encoding and maintenance. However, the exact nature of this modulation will need further investigation. We conclude that understanding how intentions modulate the effect of working memory on long-term memory could shed new light on their relationship.