Medindia LOGIN REGISTER
Medindia

Role of Working Memory Capacity in Both Mathematical and Creative Problem Solving

by Savitha C Muppala on Aug 10 2012 8:06 PM

Our working memory capacity is decidedly finite - it reflects our ability to focus and control attention and strongly influences our ability to solve problems.

 Role of Working Memory Capacity in Both Mathematical and Creative Problem Solving
Our working memory capacity is decidedly finite - it reflects our ability to focus and control attention and strongly influences our ability to solve problems.
In a new study, Jennifer Wiley and Andrew Jarosz of the University of Illinois at Chicago have explored the role of working memory capacity in both mathematical and creative problem solving.

Converging evidence from many psychological science studies suggests that high working memory capacity is associated with better performance at mathematical problem-solving.

In fact, decreased working memory capacity may be one reason why math anxiety leads to poor math performance. Overall, working memory capacity seems to help analytical problem-solvers focus their attention and resist distraction.

However, these very features of working memory capacity seem to impair creative problem-solving. With creative problems, reaching a solution may require an original approach or a novel combination of diverse pieces of information. As a result, too much focus may actually impair creative problem solving.

The researchers noted that, in the real world, problems are not always distinctly divided into analytic and creative types - successful problem solving depends on the needs of a given situation.

The study has been described in a new article in the August issue of Current Directions in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science.

Advertisement
Source-ANI


Advertisement