Introduction
Working memory is an important cognitive process which has been studied extensively in recent years. The Working Memory Index (WMI) is a standardized measure of working memory capacity that has been developed to assess an individual’s ability to maintain and manipulate information in short-term memory. The purpose of this paper is to present an overview of the WMI and to discuss its use in research and clinical settings.
Description of the Working Memory Index
The Working Memory Index (WMI) is a standardized measure of working memory capacity that was developed by Salthouse (1996). The WMI is based on the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) and consists of three subtests: Digit Span, Letter-Number Sequencing, and Arithmetic. The Digit Span subtest requires participants to repeat a series of digits in the same order as they are presented; the Letter-Number Sequencing subtest requires participants to recall a series of numbers and letters in numerical and alphabetical order; and the Arithmetic subtest requires participants to solve simple arithmetic problems. The WMI is expressed as a scaled score, with higher scores indicating better working memory capacity.
Use of the Working Memory Index
The WMI is commonly used in both research and clinical settings to assess the working memory capacity of individuals. In research settings, the WMI is often used to study how working memory capacity affects cognitive performance in various tasks. For example, the WMI has been used to study the effects of aging on working memory capacity (Salthouse, 1996). In clinical settings, the WMI is often used to assess the working memory capacity of individuals with neurological and developmental disorders, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and Down syndrome (Gioia, Isquith, Guy, & Kenworthy, 2000). The WMI is also used to assess the working memory capacity of individuals with learning disabilities (Gioia et al., 2000).
Conclusion
The Working Memory Index is a standardized measure of working memory capacity that is commonly used in both research and clinical settings. The WMI is based on the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale and consists of three subtests: Digit Span, Letter-Number Sequencing, and Arithmetic. The WMI is expressed as a scaled score, with higher scores indicating better working memory capacity. The WMI is often used to study how working memory capacity affects cognitive performance in various tasks and to assess the working memory capacity of individuals with neurological and developmental disorders.
References
Gioia, G.A., Isquith, P.K., Guy, S.C., & Kenworthy, L. (2000). Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function Professional Manual. Odessa, FL: Psychological Assessment Resources.
Salthouse, T.A. (1996). The processing-speed theory of adult age differences in cognition. Psychological Review, 103, 403-428.