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Private speech amount positively predicts memory performance in young adults
1Department of Psychology, University of California, San Diego.
Consciousness and Cognition
|June 16, 2023
Summary
Talking to yourself, known as private speech, enhances cognitive performance in young adults. Increased private speech during tasks is linked to better task outcomes, suggesting its potential in educational settings.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Developmental Psychology
Background:
- Private speech, or talking aloud to oneself, is a common behavior.
- Its role in adult cognitive performance is not fully understood.
- Visual-spatial working memory tasks are sensitive to cognitive processes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between private speech and cognitive performance in young adults.
- To determine if the quantity of private speech predicts performance on a visual-spatial working memory task.
Main Methods:
- A card-matching game assessing visual-spatial working memory was used.
- 118 young adults (mean age 20.13 years) participated.
- Participants completed trials with instructions to maximize private speech and were analyzed using multilevel modeling.
Main Results:
- Higher levels of private speech were significantly associated with better performance on the task.
- This association was consistent regardless of participants' baseline task competency.
- No moderation by baseline competency was observed.
Conclusions:
- The extent to which young adults engage in private speech, when instructed, is positively related to cognitive performance.
- Findings suggest private speech may be a valuable cognitive strategy.
- Implications for educational and instructional environments are significant.
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