Related Experiment Videos
Modality specificity of memory span tasks among Zaïrian children: A developmental perspective.
L L Conant1, P S Fastenau, B J Giordani
1Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee 53226, USA. lconant@mcw.edu
Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology
|September 4, 1999
Summary
Visual memory span remains distinct from verbal memory span in Zaïrian children, unlike in American children. This suggests written language development influences memory task modality specificity.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Developmental Psychology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Digit span (DS) and visual memory span (VMS) tasks are distinct in young children but not in older American children and adults.
- Previous research suggests modality specificity may diminish with age in American populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate modality specificity of VMS in Zaïrian children.
- To explore the role of written language training in the automatization of VMS processing.
Main Methods:
- Factor analyses were conducted on K-ABC data from 139 Zaïrian children.
- Participants were divided into two age groups: younger (6.1-8.5 years) and older (8.6-12.8 years).
- Separate analyses were performed for each age group.
Main Results:
- Two-factor solutions emerged for both younger and older Zaïrian children, representing verbal and visual-spatial abilities.
- Modality specificity of the visual span task was supported in both age groups.
- Older Zaïrian children maintained modality specificity in VMS tasks.
Conclusions:
- Findings support the theoretical distinction between verbal and visual memory span.
- Modality specificity of VMS persists in older Zaïrian children, unlike older American children.
- Differences in written language development may explain the divergence in VMS task loadings between Zaïrian and American children.