Abstract: In strictly controlled conditions, a 2 × 3 mixed design was used in the presentresearch to investigate the difference of working memory (WM) capacity betweenstudents with learning difficulties and students good at learning. On this basis, cueingprocedure was introduced to explore further the deficits of students with learningdifficulties in WM capacity were due to storage ability, processing efficiency or bothof them together. The results showed that students with leading difficulties wereinferior to students good at learning in WM capacity (P < 0.01). The results alsorevealed that the deficits of students with learning difflculties in WM capacity wereprimarily caused by their storage ability. These findings indicate that one should putmore emphasis on the training in storage ability of students with learning difficultiesto broaden their WM capacity and improve their learning.

Key words: students with learning difficulties, working memory, storage ability, processing efficiency