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    Statistical manipulation and control strategies of the n-back task

    Author
    Ralph, Jason
    View/Open
    174731_Ralph_rpi_0185E_10520.pdf (3.934Mb)
    Other Contributors
    Gray, Wayne D., 1950-; Schoelles, Michael J.; Fajen, Brett R.; Kalsher, Michael J.; Chabris, Christopher F.;
    Date Issued
    2014-12
    Subject
    Cognitive science
    Degree
    PhD;
    Terms of Use
    This electronic version is a licensed copy owned by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY. Copyright of original work retained by author.;
    Metadata
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    URI
    https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.13015/1284
    Abstract
    The impact of task environments on cognitive strategies are well known and have formed the basis of many important findings in cognitive science. However, these effects are often overlooked in research design. The n-back, thought to measure working memory and executive control capacity, is especially prone to misinterpretation because of a lack of standardization in how researchers administer the task. This dissertation chronicles a set of experiments investigating experimental design variation along several dimensions. The results showed that differences in stimulus frequency distributions and the ratio of targets to lures cause variation in performance by stimulating strategic differences. Variations in n-back performance across different populations or different n-back paradigms are often interpreted in terms of resource capacity or strategic views of memory, attention, and cognitive control. Hence, the results of this work highlight the importance of understanding the connection between strategy and the environment when applying cognitive theory to tasks like the n-back.;
    Description
    December 2014; School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences
    Department
    Dept. of Cognitive Science;
    Publisher
    Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY
    Relationships
    Rensselaer Theses and Dissertations Online Collection;
    Access
    Restricted to current Rensselaer faculty, staff and students. Access inquiries may be directed to the Rensselaer Libraries.;
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