Adaptive choice between articulatory rehearsal and attentional refreshing in verbal working memory

Because both articulatory rehearsal and attentional refreshing aid in the maintenance of verbal information in the short term, the present study evaluated the adaptive use of these mechanisms, using a complex span paradigm. In Experiment 1 , the phonological similarity of memory list words and the a...

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Published in:	Memory & cognition 2011-02, Vol.39 (2), p.231-244
Main Authors:	Camos, Valérie, Mora, Gerome, Oberauer, Klaus
Format:	Article
Language:	eng
Subjects:	Adolescent Association Learning Attention Attention task Behavioral Science and Psychology Biological and medical sciences Choice Behavior Cognition Cognition & reasoning Cognitive Psychology Female Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology Human Humans Language Learning. Memory Male Memory Memory, Short-Term Multitasking Phonetics Phonology Practice (Psychology) Product recalls Psychology Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry Psychology. Psychophysiology Reaction Time Reading Retention Semantics Serial Learning Short term memory Verbal Behavior Young Adult
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Summary:	Because both articulatory rehearsal and attentional refreshing aid in the maintenance of verbal information in the short term, the present study evaluated the adaptive use of these mechanisms, using a complex span paradigm. In Experiment 1 , the phonological similarity of memory list words and the attentional demand of concurrent processing were manipulated. As was predicted, a phonological similarity effect (PSE) appeared only when the concurrent task was attention demanding, thus impairing the use of refreshing and encouraging rehearsal. To verify that PSE indicates the use of rehearsal, participants were instructed to use one of the two mechanisms in Experiments 2 and 3 . In accordance wih Experiment 1 , the PSE was observed only under rehearsal. Thus, adults could adaptively choose between the two mechanisms. When remembering phonologically confusable materials, they prefer refreshing in order to reduce the impact of phonological characteristics. When available attention is reduced, they favor a less attention-demanding mechanism, rehearsal.
ISSN:	0090-502X 1532-5946