WORKING-MEMORY AND INDIVIDUAL-DIFFERENCES - A REVIEW

The objective of this paper is to review studies on individual differe nces in two areas of working memory research, namely studies derived f rom Baddelep's model and neopiagetian studies. The two types of models are first briefly summarized. Three lines of work are then reviewed: 1) studies which have addressed the issue of inter-individual or betwe en-group differences, among which Della Sala et al's study is describe d in more detail; 2) studies which have focused on the relationship be tween working memory and other cognitive domains, either through compa rison of special groups or by means of correlational analyses; 3) stud ies which have addressed the generality versus specificity of processe s involved in working memory. The conclusion draws attention to the ne cessity of conducting more analyses of qualitative versus quantitative individual differences, using Reuchlin's model of vicarious processes .