Comparing and Contrasting N-Back and Self-Directed Memory Selection, as Measures of Working Memory

Working memory (WM) is a fundamental cognitive function, yet different tasks may assess distinct aspects of WM. We investigated the relationship between self-directed selection from memory sets and performance on the N-back task. One hundred nine students participated in the study (57 females, 51 males, one other). The N-back s and self-directed memory task measures were significantly but modestly correlated ( r = .29), possibly because of a compressed (high) range of WM ability in our engineering student sample. Participants also played other games assessing cognitive speed, response inhibition, and cognitive flexibility. The gamified N-Back Task was significantly correlated with the gamified numerical Stroop task, whereas our gamified self-directed memory selection task was not. This raises the possibility that self-directed memory selection is a purer measure of working memory than the N-Back task, because there is less involvement of cognitive flexibility (as exemplified by the numerical Stroop task) in its performance.