Selective Interference with Verbal Short-Term Memory for Serial Order Information: A New Paradigm and Tests of a Timing-Signal Hypothesis

Abstract

Many recent computational models of verbal short-term memory postulate a separation between processes supporting memory for the identity of items and processes supporting memory for their serial order. Furthermore, some of these models assume that memory for serial order is supported by a timing signal. We report an attempt to find evidence for such a timing signal by comparing an item probe task, requiring memory for items, with a list probe task, requiring memory for serial order. Four experiments investigated effects of irrelevant speech, articulatory suppression, temporal grouping, and paced finger tapping on these two tasks. In Experiments 1 and 2, irrelevant speech and articulatory suppression had a greater detrimental effect on the list probe task than on the item probe task. Reaction time data indicated that the list probe task, but not the item probe task, induced serial rehearsal of items. Phonological similarity effects confirmed that both probe tasks induced phonological recoding of visual inputs. Experiment 3 showed that temporal grouping of items during list presentation improved performance on the list probe task more than on the item probe task. In Experiment 4, paced tapping had a greater detrimental effect on the list probe task than on the item probe task. However, there was no differential effect of whether tapping was to a simple or a complex rhythm. Overall, the data illustrate the utility of the item probe/list probe paradigm and provide support for models that assume memory for serial order and memory for items involve separate processes. Results are generally consistent with the timing-signal hypothesis but suggest further factors that need to be explored to distinguish it from other accounts.

Serial-order short-term memory predicts vocabulary development: Evidence from a longitudinal study.

“…These two types of information are typically confounded in verbal STM tasks. However, some studies suggest that distinct cognitive processes underlie STM for item information and STM for order information (e.g., Henson, Hartley, Burgess, Hitch, & Flude, 2003;Majerus, Poncelet, Elsen, & Van der Linden, 2006;Majerus, Poncelet, Greffe, et al, 2006;Nairne & Kelley, 2004;Poirier & Saint-Aubin, 1996). For example, Henson et al (2003) showed that variables known to affect phonological loop functioning, such as irrelevant speech and articulatory suppression, affect the retention of item and order information in different ways: these had a greater detrimental effect on tasks that require maintenance of serial order in comparison with tasks requiring maintenance of item information.…”

“…However, some studies suggest that distinct cognitive processes underlie STM for item information and STM for order information (e.g., Henson, Hartley, Burgess, Hitch, & Flude, 2003;Majerus, Poncelet, Elsen, & Van der Linden, 2006;Majerus, Poncelet, Greffe, et al, 2006;Nairne & Kelley, 2004;Poirier & Saint-Aubin, 1996). For example, Henson et al (2003) showed that variables known to affect phonological loop functioning, such as irrelevant speech and articulatory suppression, affect the retention of item and order information in different ways: these had a greater detrimental effect on tasks that require maintenance of serial order in comparison with tasks requiring maintenance of item information. Moreover, some psycholinguistic variables such as semantic similarity and lexical frequency have been shown to specifically reduce errors on item information (fewer missing or wrong items for word versus nonword lists, or for lists composed of semantically similar versus dissimilar words), while having less impact on order errors (items recalled in the wrong serial position) (Nairne & Kelley, 2004;SaintAubin & Poirier, 1999).…”

Effects of Age on the Temporal Organization of Working Memory in Deaf Signers

“…It has been proposed that serial order in WM is supported by a timing signal (Brown, Preece & Hulme, 2000;Henson, Hartley, Burgess, Hitch & Flude, 2003;Burgess & Hitch, 1999) and that the inferior parietal sulcus might play a key role here (Majerus et al, 2007).…”

“…The obvious role of order in WM has led to proposals that separate mechanisms deal with processing of item and order information and that serial order is supported by a timing Temporal organization in WM 5 signal (Brown, Preece & Hulme, 2000;Henson, Hartley, Burgess, Hitch & Flude, 2003;Burgess & Hitch, 1999), which can also be understood in terms of the predictability of the timing of stimulus presentation (Rönnberg, 1980;1981;1983). It has been suggested that the inferior parietal sulcus might play a key role in maintenance of serial order (Majerus et al, 2007).…”

“…This explanation is supported from by findings from sign language where a recency advantage in deaf native signers has been found for signs over printed words (Bellugi, Klima & Siple, 1975;Krakow & Hanson, 1985). Serial position effects are also found for visually presented items that are not verbally encoded (Hay, Smith, Hitch & Norton, 2007; Smyth, Hay, Hitch & Norton, 2005).The obvious role of order in WM has led to proposals that separate mechanisms deal with processing of item and order information and that serial order is supported by a timing Temporal organization in WM 5 signal (Brown, Preece & Hulme, 2000;Henson, Hartley, Burgess, Hitch & Flude, 2003;Burgess & Hitch, 1999), which can also be understood in terms of the predictability of the timing of stimulus presentation (Rönnberg, 1980;1981;1983). It has been suggested that the inferior parietal sulcus might play a key role in maintenance of serial order (Majerus et al, 2007).…”