Expressive writing can increase working memory capacity

The effect of emotional disclosure through expressive writing on available working memory (WM) capacity was examined in 2 semester-long experiments. I n the first study, 35 freshmen assigned to write about their thoughts and f eelings about coming to college demonstrated larger working memory gains 7 weeks later compared with 36 writers assigned to a trivial topic. Increased use of cause and insight words was associated with greater WM improvements . In the second study, students (n = 34) who wrote about a negative persona l experience enjoyed greater WM improvements and declines in intrusive thin king compared with students who wrote about a positive experience (n = 33) or a trivial topic (n = 34). The results are discussed in terms of a model grounded in cognitive and social psychological theory in which expressive w riting reduces intrusive and avoidant thinking about a stressful experience , thus freeing WM resources.