Abstract
This study examines the effects of intentional suppression of stress-related thoughts on working memory capacity, using thought suppression experimental paradigm. After the first working memory task, participants were informed to perform a speech task at the last of the experiment. Then, participants were given 5 minutes waiting period. During the waiting period, thought suppression group was instructed not to think about a speech task at all, but control group was not given any particular instruction. Finally, the second working memory task was carried out. The rate of change of working memory capacity from the first task to the second was calculated. The results showed the practice effect of the task which working memory capacity increased in both groups. However, in the thought suppression group, the practice effect was smaller than in the control group. It was suggested that suppressing stress-related thought interfered the practice effect in the working memory task.
