Psychology MCAT Practice Exam 2025 - Free Practice Questions and Study Guide for Aspiring Psychologists.

The statement that working memory is essential for complex cognitive tasks is accurate because working memory plays a critical role in holding and manipulating information temporarily, which is fundamental for reasoning, problem-solving, planning, and learning. These complex cognitive tasks often require individuals to integrate new information with existing knowledge, manage multiple pieces of information at once, and make decisions based on that information.

For example, during a math problem that requires several steps, working memory is necessary to keep track of different values and operations simultaneously, allowing for successful completion of the task. Research supports the idea that individuals with stronger working memory capabilities typically perform better on tasks requiring higher-order cognitive functions.

The other statements are less accurate because working memory does have a limited capacity, often cited as the ability to hold around 7 plus or minus 2 chunks of information at once. Contrary to the idea that working memory skills cannot be improved with practice, various studies have shown that working memory capacity can be enhanced through targeted training and cognitive exercises. Lastly, while working memory involves visual processes, it is not primarily a visual process; it integrates both visual and auditory information along with other types of sensory input, making it a more comprehensive cognitive function.