Chen, Hsiang-ChunHsiang-ChunChenKao, Chien-HuiChien-HuiKaoWang, Tzu-HuaTzu-HuaWangYen-Ting Lai2023-03-032023-03-0320221664-1078https://scholars.lib.ntu.edu.tw/handle/123456789/628914Working memory performance affects children's learning. This study examined objective (task performance), subjective (self-report), and physiological (pupil dilation) cognitive load (CL) while children completed a spatial working memory complex span task. Frist, 80 Taiwanese 11-year-olds (40 boys) who participated in Experiment 1 confirmed the suitability of the materials. Then, 72 Taiwanese 11-year-olds (35 boys) were assigned to high and low complexity groups to participate in Experiment 2 to test the study hypothesis. Children had to recall at the end of a dual-task list and answer two questions regarding the difficulty and mental effort involved in processing and storage. Their pupil diameters were recorded using an eye-tracker. Two-way mixed ANOVA found that the processing requirements and memory load reduced storage and aggravated the subjective CL of storage; the subjective CL of processing was higher under highly complex conditions. Stepwise regression analysis indicated that subjective CL of processing predicted memory performance in low CL conditions, and physiological CL of processing predicted it in high CL conditions.encognitive load; complex span task; pupil dilation; spatial working memory; subjective evaluationEvaluation of children's cognitive load in processing and storage of their spatial working memoryjournal article10.3389/fpsyg.2022.918048361606012-s2.0-85138518578WOS:000871682700001https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/85138518578