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Updated: Aug 14, 2026

Cross-Modal Multivariate Pattern Analysis
Published on: November 9, 2011
Modality-specific processing streams in verbal working memory: evidence from spatio-temporal patterns of brain
D S Ruchkin1, R S Berndt, R Johnson
1Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore 21201-1559, USA. druchkin@umabnet.ab.umd.edu
Abstract:
The present study was concerned with whether there are separate, modality-specific processing "streams" in verbal working memory for information that is heard or read. We used event-related brain potentials (ERPs) recorded from scalp of normal humans to show between-modality differences in spatio-temporal patterns of brain activity during retention in working memory of aurally or visually presented verbal information. The ERP patterns suggested that a sustained, automatically maintained auditory store was activated by auditory presentation and a transient, visual-verbal store was activated by visual presentation. In addition to these modality-specific differences, the ERPs indicated that the phonological loop was activated in both modalities and further suggested that the onset of phonological loop activation was earlier for auditory presentation.
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