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Related Concept Videos

Working Memory01:24

Working Memory

Working memory refers to a combination of components, including short-term memory and attention, that allow an individual to hold information temporarily as we perform cognitive tasks. It is an essential cognitive function that enables the execution of complex tasks such as problem-solving, comprehension, and reasoning. Unlike short-term memory, which simply involves the storage of information for a brief period, working memory involves the active manipulation and processing of this information.
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Information Processing Approach

The information-processing theory of cognitive development centers on fundamental mental processes, including attention, memory, and problem-solving skills. Researchers in this field examine how cognitive abilities, such as working memory, evolve and influence children's overall development. Studies indicate that children with stronger working memory tend to excel in reading comprehension, math, and problem-solving compared to peers with less efficient memory skills. Low working memory is also...
Language Development01:22

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 4, 2026

Examining Online Syntactic Processing of Spoken Complex Sentences in Chinese Using Dual-Modal Interference Tasks
08:32

Examining Online Syntactic Processing of Spoken Complex Sentences in Chinese Using Dual-Modal Interference Tasks

Published on: September 5, 2019

Role of working memory in typically developing children's complex sentence comprehension.

James W Montgomery1, Beula M Magimairaj, Michelle H O'Malley

  • 1School of Hearing, Speech and Language Sciences, Grover Center w231, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701-2979, USA. montgoj1@ohio.edu

Journal of Psycholinguistic Research
|June 4, 2008
PubMed
Summary

Working memory mechanisms, including attentional control and processing speed, are crucial for school-age children

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Area of Science:

  • Developmental Psychology
  • Cognitive Neuroscience
  • Linguistics

Background:

  • Working memory is essential for cognitive tasks.
  • Its specific components' roles in language comprehension, particularly in children, require further elucidation.
  • Understanding these mechanisms can inform educational strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the influence of phonological short-term memory (PSTM) capacity, attentional resource control/allocation, and processing speed on children's sentence comprehension.
  • To differentiate the impact of these working memory components on simple versus complex sentence understanding.

Main Methods:

  • Fifty-two children aged 6-12 years participated.
  • Standardized tasks assessed PSTM capacity (nonword repetition), resource control/allocation (concurrent verbal processing-storage), and processing speed (reaction time).
  • Sentence comprehension was evaluated using both simple and complex sentence structures.

Main Results:

  • No significant correlation was found between working memory variables and simple sentence comprehension.
  • Attentional resource control/allocation and processing speed significantly correlated with complex sentence comprehension, independent of age.
  • Attentional functioning and processing speed were significant predictors of complex sentence comprehension, even after controlling for age.

Conclusions:

  • Working memory, specifically attentional functioning and processing speed, plays a critical role in school-age children's comprehension of complex sentences.
  • Simple sentence comprehension appears less dependent on these specific working memory mechanisms.
  • Findings highlight the importance of developing these cognitive skills for advanced language processing in children.