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Examining Online Syntactic Processing of Spoken Complex Sentences in Chinese Using Dual-Modal Interference Tasks
Published on: September 5, 2019
Phonological similarity effects in verbal complex span
Katy J Lobley1, Alan D Baddeley, Susan E Gathercole
1Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK. katy.lobley@rlc.nhs.uk
Summary
Phonological similarity effects confirm the phonological loop
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Verbal complex span tasks measure processing and storage, correlating with complex cognition.
- Acoustic coding's role in these tasks is investigated.
- Working memory models are central to understanding cognitive abilities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the role of acoustic coding in verbal complex span tasks.
- To determine the influence of phonological similarity on listening span.
- To examine the robustness of phonological similarity effects across different task conditions.
Main Methods:
- Three experiments utilized phonological similarity effects.
- Listening span was measured under varying task materials and processing demands.
- Statistical analyses examined the significance and interactions of these effects.
Main Results:
- Consistent phonological similarity effects were observed on listening span.
- These effects were largely insensitive to changes in task materials and processing demands.
- Phonological similarity effects showed some variation, suggesting potential disruption by task demands.
Conclusions:
- The phonological loop plays a significant role in verbal complex span.
- These findings support a multicomponent view of working memory.
- Task demands can potentially disrupt phonological similarity effects and reliance on phonological codes.
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