Semantic Effects In Verbal Short-term Memory: Where Do They Come From?

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Kowialiewski Benjamin Majerus Steve

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Introduction

« Recall » Verbal short-term memory: temporary storage of verbal information

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Semantic knowledge has a dramatic influence on vSTM span.

A A A B B B

A B C D E F

Introduction

A A A B B B

A B C D E F

Ex: leaf – tree – branch – arm – leg – hand

Ex: lake – hand – road – flute – mask – dress

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A A A B B B

A B C D E F

High imageability words

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Introduction

A A A B B B A B C D E F Ex: pork – waffel – leg – pencil – ball – cage Ex: stress – wave – tax – glory – gender – smart Imageability effect

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Focus of attention

Cowan (2001) Oberauer (2002) Majerus (2013) Long-term memory

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Introduction

Martin, Saffran, & Dell (1996) Cowan (2001) Oberauer (2002) Majerus (2013)

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Cowan (2001) Oberauer (2002) Majerus (2013)

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Introduction

Martin, Saffran, & Dell (1996) Cowan (2001) Oberauer (2002) Majerus (2013)

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Introduction

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Introduction: the semantic similarity effect

Dell (1986) Martin, Saffran & Dell (1996)

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Introduction: the semantic similarity effect

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Introduction: the semantic similarity effect

Dell (1986) Martin, Saffran & Dell (1996)

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Introduction: the semantic similarity effect

DOG CAT MAT RAT LOG FOG

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Introduction

Interactive activations should continue to occur when the focus of attention is taken away from linguistic representations.

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Introduction: the semantic similarity effect

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Method: Experiment 1

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Recall Recall Recall Interference Interference Interference Recall Recall Recall

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Method: Experiment 1

Interference

45 45… 42… 39…

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Method: Experiment 1

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Interference x Semantic:

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A A A B B B

A B C D E F

Imageability effect

Ex: pork – waffel – leg – pencil – ball – cage

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Method: Experiment 2a

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Interference x Imageability:

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Method: Experiment 2b

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Interference x Imageability:

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Discussion

The semantic similarity effect was stronger under interference.

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Discussion

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Discussion

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Discussion

Campoy, Castellà, Provencio, Hitch, & Baddeley (2015) Imageability effect

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Conclusion

Interactive activation can occur automatically, when attention is driven away from vSTM content.

This is not the case as regards high imageability words, whose semantic features require deeper activation within the linguistic system.

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Discussion

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Introduction

DOG CAT MAT RAT LOG FOG

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Discussion

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