What role does working memory play in sustained attention?

Working memory plays a crucial role in sustained attention by aiding in the holding and manipulating of information, which is central to maintaining focus on a task over an extended period. When engaged in a task that requires sustained attention, individuals need to keep relevant information readily available to process and respond accordingly. Working memory allows a person to temporarily store and manipulate this information, such as remembering instructions, previous steps taken, or any relevant details needed to complete the task effectively.

For instance, when a student is reading a complex text, working memory enables them to keep in mind the main points and relationships between ideas while filtering out irrelevant distractions. This capability is essential for monitoring progress on a task and adjusting focus as required, thus facilitating sustained attention.

The other options, while related to cognitive processes, do not directly address the primary connection between working memory and sustained attention. For example, improving multitasking ability does not inherently relate to focusing on a single task for an extended duration, and rapid task switching involves different cognitive mechanisms than those at play when maintaining attention on one task over time. Ignoring distractions can be influenced by various factors, such as environmental cues and individual focus, rather than simply the operation of working memory.