Measuring working memory capacity with the letter–number sequencing task: Advantages of visual administration

Mielicki, Marta K.; Koppel, Rebecca H.; Valencia, Gabriela; Wiley, Jennifer

doi:10.1002/acp.3468

Cited by 21 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 55 publications

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“…At the cognitive level, working memory encompasses several cognitive operations depending on the theoretical model adopted (Baddeley, 2012; Barrouillet & Camos, 2014), including encoding, capacity, maintenance, updating, rehearsal and decay. At the measurement level, Letter Number Sequencing and other clinical tests of working memory are not process pure (Egeland, 2015; Mielicki et al, 2018). Standard Letter Number Sequencing scoring does not distinguish between capacity and manipulation, for example.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The influence of working memory and processing speed on other aspects of cognitive functioning in de novo Parkinson's disease: Initial findings from network modelling and graph theory

Ferguson

Foley

2023

Journal of Neuropsychology

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Deficits in working memory (WM) and processing speed (PS) are thought to undermine other cognitive functions in de novo Parkinson's disease (dnPD). However, these interrelationships are only partially understood. This study investigated whether there are stronger relationships between verbal WM and verbal episodic memory encoding and retrieval, whether verbal WM and PS have a greater influence on other aspects of cognitive functioning, and whether the overall strength of interrelationships among several cognitive functions differs in dnPD compared to health. Data for 198 healthy controls (HCs) and 293 dnPD patients were analysed. Participants completed a neuropsychological battery probing verbal WM, PS, verbal episodic memory, semantic memory, language and visuospatial functioning. Deficit analysis, network modelling and graph theory were combined to compare the groups. Results suggested that verbal WM performance, while slightly impaired, was more strongly associated with measures of verbal episodic memory encoding and retrieval, as well as other measured cognitive functions in the dnPD network model compared to the HC network model. PS task performance was impaired and more strongly associated with other neuropsychological task scores in the dnPD model. Associations among task scores were stronger overall in the dnPD model. Together, these results provide further evidence that WM and PS are important influences on the other aspects of cognitive functioning measured in this study in dnPD. Moreover, they provide novel evidence that verbal WM and PS might bear greater influence on the other measured cognitive functions and that these functions are more strongly intertwined in dnPD compared to health.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The influence of working memory and processing speed on other aspects of cognitive functioning in de novo Parkinson's disease: Initial findings from network modelling and graph theory

Ferguson

Foley

2023

Journal of Neuropsychology

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“…Second, the Letter-Number Sequencing task used to measure WM in this study might measure the verbal buffer, a domain-specific “slave system” ( 43 ), rather than measuring more complex executive functions ( 72 ). Strong neuroimaging evidence connects verbal WM with the left hemisphere ( 73 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Working Memory and Language Contribution to Verbal Learning and Memory in Drug-Resistant Unilateral Focal Temporal Lobe Epilepsy

2021

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We aimed to investigate the working memory (WM) and language separate contributions to verbal learning and memory in patients with unilateral drug-resistant temporal lobe epilepsy (drTLE); additionally, we explored the mediating role of WM on the relationship between the number of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) and short-term verbal memory. We retrospectively enrolled 70 patients with left (LTLE; n = 44) and right (RTLE; n = 26) drTLE. About 40 similar (age and education) healthy controls were used to determine impairments of groups at WM, language (naming and verbal fluency), and verbal learning and memory (five trials list-learning, story memory—immediate recall). To disentangle the effect of learning from the short-term memory, we separately analyzed performances at the first trial, last trial, and delayed-recall list-learning measures, in addition to the total learning capacity (the sum of the five trials). Correlation and regression analyses were used to assess the contribution of potential predictors while controlling for main clinical and demographic variables, and ascertain the mediating role of WM. All patients were impaired at WM and story memory, whereas only LTLE showed language and verbal learning deficits. In RTLE, language was the unique predictor for the most verbal learning performances, whereas WM predicted the results at story memory. In LTLE, WM was the sole predictor for short-term verbal learning (list-learning capacity; trial 1) and mediated the interaction between AED number and the performance at these measures, whereas language predicted the delayed-recall. Finally, WM confounded the performance at short-term memory in both groups, although at different measures. WM is impaired in drTLE and contributes to verbal memory and learning deficits in addition to language, mediating the relationship between AED number and short-term verbal memory in LTLE. Clinicians should consider this overlap when interpreting poor performance at verbal learning and memory in drTLE.

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“…In this test, participants listened to a series of numbers and letters in their L1 and were asked to remember and organize them, typing first the numbers in ascending order and then the letters in alphabetical order. We administered an oral version of the test because the oral version is more common and demanding than the visual version (Mielicki et al, 2018), and because the eye-tracking task was also oral. There were two practice trials and 20 experimental series, increasing in length from three to eight items (letters and numbers).…”

Section: Working Memorymentioning

confidence: 99%

Interpreting experience and working memory effects on L1 and L2 morphological prediction

2023

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The human brain tries to process information as efficiently as possible through mechanisms like prediction. Native speakers predict linguistic information extensively, but L2 learners show variability. Interpreters use prediction while working and research shows that interpreting experience mediates L2 prediction. However, it is unclear whether advantages related to interpreting are due to higher working memory (WM) capacity, a typical characteristic of professional interpreters. To better understand the role of WM during L1 and L2 prediction, English L2 learners of Spanish with and without interpreting experience and Spanish monolinguals completed a visual-world paradigm eye-tracking task and a number-letter sequencing working memory task. The eye-tracking task measured prediction of verbal morphology (present, past) based on suprasegmental information (lexical stress: paroxytone, oxytone) and segmental information (syllabic structure: CV, CVC). Results revealed that WM mediates L1 prediction, such that higher WM facilitates prediction of morphology in monolinguals. However, higher WM hinders prediction in L2 processing for non-interpreters. Interestingly, interpreters behaved similarly to monolinguals, with higher WM facilitating L2 prediction. This study provides further understanding of the variability in L2 prediction.

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Measuring working memory capacity with the letter–number sequencing task: Advantages of visual administration

Cited by 21 publications

References 55 publications

The influence of working memory and processing speed on other aspects of cognitive functioning in de novo Parkinson's disease: Initial findings from network modelling and graph theory

The influence of working memory and processing speed on other aspects of cognitive functioning in de novo Parkinson's disease: Initial findings from network modelling and graph theory

Working Memory and Language Contribution to Verbal Learning and Memory in Drug-Resistant Unilateral Focal Temporal Lobe Epilepsy

Interpreting experience and working memory effects on L1 and L2 morphological prediction

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