The aim of this experiment was to examine the effects of shape similarity in visual working memory using a six alternative recognition task of Chinese characters. Shape similarity among items was manipulated at both encoding and retrieval in order to assess in which phase similarity impairs recognition to a greater degree. Results revealed that performance is particularly facilitated by high discriminability at retrieval but also by the presence of similar items at encoding, as similarity simplifies the global representation of the display and reduces memory load. Moreover, results provide further evidence that the classical similarity effect can be reversed in the visual domain when item memory (as opposed to order) is assessed.

The aim of this study was to explore whether the content of a simple concurrent verbal load task determines the extent of its interference on memory for coloured shapes. The task consisted of remembering four visual items while repeating aloud a pair of words that varied in terms of imageability and relatedness to the task set. At test, a cue appeared that was either the colour or the shape of one of the previously seen objects, with participants required to select the object's other feature from a visual array. During encoding and retention, there were four verbal load conditions: (a) a related, shape-colour pair (from outside the experimental set, i.e., "pink square"); (b) a pair of unrelated but visually imageable, concrete, words (i.e., "big elephant"); (c) a pair of unrelated and abstract words (i.e., "critical event"); and (d) no verbal load. Results showed differential effects of these verbal load conditions. In particular, imageable words (concrete and related conditions) interfered to a greater degree than abstract words. Possible implications for how visual working memory interacts with verbal memory and long-term memory are discussed.

Three experiments assessed the role of verbal and visuo-spatial working memory in supporting long-term repetition priming for written words. In Experiment 1, two priming tasks (word stem completion and category-exemplar production) were included with three levels of load on working memory: (1) without memory load, (2) memory load that involved storing a string of six digits, and (3) memory load that involved storing a graphic shape. Experiments 2 and 3 compared the effects of a verbal (Experiment 2) or a visual (Experiment 3) working memory load at encoding on both an implicit (word stem completion) and an explicit test (cued recall). The results show no effect of memory load in any of the implicit memory tests, suggesting that priming does not rely on working memory resources. By contrast, loading working memory at encoding causes a significant disruptive effect on the explicit memory test for words when the load is verbal but not visual.

PALABRAS CLAVE ADICIONALES ADDITIONAL KEYWORDS Fuerzas Armadas, Civilinización, modeloArmed Forces, Civilinization, Institutional/ institucional/ocupacional, Posmodemidad.Occupational Model, Post-modemity.RESUMEN: En este trabajo se analiza la percepción que los oficiales del ejército español tienen hoy en día de su profesión, así como de los valores específicos que la impregnan. Para ello, se parte del proceso civilinizacional descrito por Janowitz, se utiliza el enfoque popularizado por Charles Moskos, dado que nos permite distinguir entre el modelo institucional, el ocupacional y algunas fórmulas híbridas ubicadas entre ambos, y se plantean algunos interrogantes sobre la adaptación a las circunstancias de la posmodemidad. De las fuentes empleadas se deduce que los militares españoles desean avanzar desde lo institucional hasta alguna fórmula mixta, que incluya valores ocupacionales. Pero sin que ello suponga una renuncia definitiva a los rasgos que conforman el ethos tradicional de las Fuerzas Armadas.ABSTRACT: This paper analyses the perception that the Spanish officers have today about their profession, as well as specific valúes which pervade it. In order to achieve this it starts with civilinizational process described by Morris Janowitz. Next, it uses the slant popularized by Charles Moskos, because it allows one to distinguish between the institutional model from the occupational one, and from some hybrid types among them both. And finally, it raises some questions about the posmodem issues. It is deduced fi-om the sources employed that Spanish Armed Forces look forward to advancing from the institutional to some other mixed form, which includes occupational valúes and posmodem trends. Not meaning a definite resignation of the features that suppose the traditional ethos of the Armed Forces.

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