Can valuable information be prioritized in verbal working memory?

Though there is substantial evidence that individuals can prioritize more valuable information in visual working memory (WM), little research has examined this the verbal domain. Four experiments were conducted to investigate and conditions under which effects emerge. In each experiment, participants listened digit sequences then attempted recall them correct order. At start of block, either told all items equal value, or an item at a particular serial position was worth points. Recall enhanced for these higher value (Experiment 1a), finding replicated while rejecting alternative account based on distinctiveness 1b). Thus, be prioritized WM. Two further investigated whether boosts remained when completed simple concurrent task disrupting rehearsal 2), complex executive resources 3). Under conditions, prioritization observed, but with increased costs less items. Prioritization also observed although accompanied by chance-level performance most positions. A recency advantage final sequence, across conditions. Taken together, indicates WM even are disrupted, though they do so neglecting abandoning other sequence. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, rights reserved).