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. 2013 Mar 1;26(1):45-49.
doi: 10.1024/1662-9647/a000078.

Maintaining a Sense of Control in the Context of Cognitive Challenge: Greater Stability in Control Beliefs Benefits Working Memory

Stefan Agrigoroaei  1 , Shevaun D Neupert, Margie E Lachman
Affiliations

Maintaining a Sense of Control in the Context of Cognitive Challenge: Greater Stability in Control Beliefs Benefits Working Memory

Stefan Agrigoroaei et al. GeroPsych (Bern). .

Abstract

We considered the functional role of control beliefs for cognitive performance by focusing on patterns of stability across multiple trials increasing in level of difficulty. We assessed 56 adults aged 18-88 on working memory tasks. We examined stability vs. lability (intraindividual variability, IIV) in control beliefs and the relationships with anxiety, distraction, and performance. Age was positively associated with IIV in control and performance, and IIV increased with task difficulty. Those maintaining stable control beliefs had better performance, and showed less anxiety and distraction. Those with lower stability and less control showed steeper declines in performance and increases in distraction. The findings suggest that stability of control beliefs may serve a protective function in the context of cognitively challenging tasks.

Keywords: control beliefs; intraindividual variability; working memory.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Results of the Difficulty × Variability in Control interaction on performance of the memory updating task
Figure 2
Figure 2
Results of the Difficulty × Variability in Control interaction on anxiety for the memory updating task
Figure 3
Figure 3
Results of the Difficulty × Variability in Control interaction on distraction for the n-back task
Figure 4
Figure 4
Results of the Variability in Control × Difficulty × Individual Average Control interaction on performance of the memory updating task
Figure 5
Figure 5
Results of the Variability in Control × Difficulty × Individual Average Control interaction on distraction of the memory updating task
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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