How conscious experience and working memory interact.
Bernard J. Baars, Stan Franklin
Trends in Cognitive Sciences April 1, 2003 DOI: 10.1016/s1364-6613(03)00056-1 (opens in new tab) via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractThe active components of classical working memory are conscious, a fact that traditional theory does not account for. Global Workspace theory proposes that consciousness recruits unconscious specialized networks to perform detailed working memory functions. The IDA model offers a detailed analysis of this process, focusing on two classical working-memory tasks: verbal rehearsal and the use of a visual image. This analysis clarifies the interactions between conscious and unconscious aspects of working memory.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key finding | Proposes that Global Workspace theory and the IDA model explain how consciousness recruits unconscious networks to carry out working memory functions, shedding light on conscious-unconscious interactions. |
Abstract
Active components of classical working memory are conscious, but traditional theory does not account for this fact. Global Workspace theory suggests that consciousness is needed to recruit unconscious specialized networks that carry out detailed working memory functions. The IDA model provides a fine-grained analysis of this process, specifically of two classical working-memory tasks, verbal rehearsal and the utilization of a visual image. In the process, new light is shed on the interactions between conscious and unconscious aspects of working memory.