Memory retrieval and interference: Working memory issues

Working memory capacity has been suggested as a factor that is involved in long-term memory retrieval, particularly when that retrieval involves a need to overcome some sort of interference (Bunting et al., 2004 and Cantor and Engle, 1993). Previous work has suggested that working memory is related to the acquisition of information during learning, along with the management of interference and the use of inhibition during long-term memory retrieval. This paper reports a study that further addressed the role of working memory capacity on long-term memory retrieval. Our results showed that working memory capacity is somewhat related to the integration of information into situation models, and the management of interference, but not to the ability to suppress irrelevant information. The role of other cognitive processes, such as general situation model processing and general inhibitory ability, were also explored.