International Journal of Cognitive Sciences

The goal of the current review is to present a general review of the literature regarding the relationship between attention control and working memory, particularly focusing on how the two concepts are defined and experimentally measured. We also hope to convince the reader that working memory, as a broad concept, should be viewed as a hierarchical model comprising working memory capacity and attention control. In the extant literature, researchers have struggled with disentangling the two highly correlated constructs. In particular, attention control has been difficult to define because many papers use the same term to refer to different interpretations of the construct, or simply include it as part of working memory more broadly. Furthermore, multiple definitions of working memory have been presented and, as often as not, no definition is provided when researchers include working memory in their investigations. We hope to at least provide a useful overview of these multifaceted constructs and perhaps a usable framework for studying working memory and attention.

In the current work, we examine whether height perception is determined by head orientation. Our previous work has found that upward head orientation is overestimated by the same factor as downward head orientation, and this is consistent with the distance by which targets you must look up at are overestimated. In Experiment 1, participants looked at two targets from two different distances. Height estimates were significantly correlated to head orientation. Head orientation also significantly changed height estimates, with the closer distance (i.e., higher head orientation) yielding greater distance estimates, even when controlling for target height. In Experiment 2, we controlled for distance by having participants estimate the height of two targets while sitting down or standing. Height estimates were again significantly correlated with head orientation. Sitting or standing (i.e., manipulating head orientation) changed height estimates, with sitting yielding greater distance estimates, again, even when controlling for target height. Our work shows that head orientation is strongly positively correlated to the perception of height and that changing head orientation leads to concomitant changes in perception of height. The common scale expansion for upward and downward head orientation leads to corresponding distance estimates that reliably predict how we spatially map the environment.

Background: Studies on the association between cognitive dysfunction and criminality have shown that individuals in prison, particularly repeat offenders and those convicted of violent crimes, tend to exhibit difficulties in cognitive, social, and emotional functioning. The objective of this study was to evaluate and characterize cognitive and executive functioning of incarcerated individuals, while also seeking to understand the impact of incarceration on executive functions. Methods: The sample consisted of 30 participants at various stages of their sentences. Neuropsychological assessments were conducted using cognitive screening tests and tests directed to assess executive functions and decision making. Results: Neurocognitive performance was within normative ranges. Selective associations between sentence duration and specific executive functions were observed, suggesting a relationship with criminal severity indicators. Decision-making also appeared impaired, as no evidence of learning was found and deck selection focused on more disadvantageous decks. Conclusions: These findings a relationship between indicators of criminal severity and specific aspects of executive functioning and decision making, rather than a generalized cognitive impairment. However, these conclusions require further research under this topic in larger and more diverse samples.