Bridging behavioural, neural, and first-person insights into working memory strategies : a multi-level framework

Slana Ozimič, Anka (author), Purg Suljič, Nina (author), Oblak, Aleš (author), Bon, Jurij (author), Strle, Toma (author), Repovš, Grega (author)

Working memory is a core cognitive function, yet findings regarding its behavioural and neural underpinnings are often inconsistent. We argue that a major source of this inconsistency stems from the diverse strategies individuals employ to perform working memory tasks. To systematically address this variability, we propose a conceptual framework that captures the dynamic interplay among strategy characteristics, the factors determining strategy selection – such as task characteristics and individual differences in cognitive style and ability and strategy manifestations across behavioural, neural, and first-person levels of observation. Drawing on evidence from behavioural experiments, neuroimaging studies, and subjective reports, we demonstrate how differences in strategy use contribute to variability in task performance, brain activation patterns, and experience. We argue that accounting for this variability in strategies is crucial for improving the reliability and generalizability of findings in working memory research, particularly in light of the replication crisis in cognitive science. Ultimately, our framework advocates for an integrated, multi-level methodology that advances both theoretical and applied understanding of working memory.

• Language: English
• Keywords: working memory, cognitive strategies, variability, behaviour, neuroimaging, phenomenology
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: FF - Faculty of Arts; MF - Faculty of Medicine; PEF - Faculty of Education
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2025
• Number of pages: Str. 125-144
• Numbering: Letn. 19, št. 1
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-171151
• UDC: 165.194
• ISSN on article: 2350-4218
• DOI: 10.4312/ars.19.1.125-144
• COBISS.SI-ID: 245376259
• Publication date in RUL: 12.08.2025

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Ars & humanitas : revija za umetnost in humanistiko = journal of arts and humanities
• Publisher: Založba Univerze v Ljubljani
• ISSN: 2350-4218
• COBISS.SI-ID: 269590528

Licences

• License: CC BY-SA 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
• Description: This Creative Commons license is very similar to the regular Attribution license, but requires the release of all derivative works under this same license.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Title: Povezovanje vedenjskih, nevronskih in prvoosebnih vpogledov v strategije delovnega spomina : večnivojski okvir

Abstract

Delovni spomin je osnovna kognitivna funkcija, vendar so ugotovitve glede njegovih vedenjskih in nevronskih osnov pogosto neskladne. Predpostavljamo, da je pomemben vir te neskladnosti raznolikost strategij, ki jih posamezniki uporabljajo pri izvajanju nalog delovnega spomina. Da bi sistematično obravnavali to variabilnost, predlagamo konceptualni okvir, ki zajame dinamično medsebojno povezanost med značilnostmi strategij, dejavniki, ki določajo izbiro strategij – kot so značilnosti naloge in individualne razlike v kognitivnem slogu in sposobnostih – ter njenimi manifestacijami na vedenjski, nevronski in subjektivni ravni opazovanja. Na podlagi dokazov iz vedenjskih eksperimentov, nevroslikovnih študij in subjektivnih poročil prikazujemo, kako razlike v uporabi strategij prispevajo k variabilnosti v uspešnosti na nalogah, vzorcih aktivnosti možganov in doživljanju. Trdimo, da je upoštevanje te variabilnosti strategij ključnega pomena za izboljšanje zanesljivosti in posplošljivosti ugotovitev pri raziskavah delovnega spomina, zlasti v luči krize ponovljivosti v kognitivni znanosti. Skupno naš okvir zagovarja integrirano večstopenjsko metodologijo, ki prispeva tako k teoretičnemu kot tudi uporabnemu razumevanju delovnega spomina.

• Keywords: delovni spomin, kognitivne strategije, variabilnost, spremenljivost, vedenje, nevrološko slikanje, nevroslikovne metode, fenomenologija, kognitivna znanost