Effects of verbal labeling on memory for hand movements

Abstract

This study examined whether a secondary verbal shadowing task influences recall for hand movements. Descriptive verbal labels associated with hand postures (e.g., "fist", "palm") were presented auditorily, concurrent with video presentation of hand postures, and the participant was instructed to shadow the words aloud. In the congruent verbal labels condition, the words were matched with the hand postures shown, and in the incongruent condition, the labels and hand postures were unmatched. In Experiment 1 (N = 18), a computerized version of the Kaufman Hand Movements Test (KHMT), which involves three distinct hand postures, was performed under congruent and incongruent labels conditions, and baseline. For Experiment 2 (N = 18), the same format was applied to a hand movement span task, similar to the KHMT, but based on seven distinct hand postures. For both experiments, shadowing congruent labels enhanced serial recall, whereas shadowing incongruent labels reduced recall when compared to baseline. Thus memory for hand movements was affected by the content of the secondary verbal task, consistent with participants spontaneously using a verbal recoding and rehearsal strategy to support this form of memory, a strategy enhanced through the provision of appropriate labels.

What is the best strategy for retaining gestures in working memory?

“…In conclusion, the present results showed that an induced verbal strategy improved performance compared to an induced gestural strategy and a hypothesised spontaneous verbal strategy in the control group (see Frencham et al, 2004). Furthermore, the verbal strategy not only enhanced performance, but counteracted the deleterious effect of gestural interference.…”

“…The (induced) verbal strategy may have allowed participants to use their phonological loop, and retain gestures as words. This possibility was also suggested by Frencham et al (2004). Whilst this does not eliminate a role for gestural encoding, it does signify that verbal encoding can be used to support the learning of gestures.…”

“…The authors suggested that articulatory suppression prevented the representation from being verbally recoded. Moreover, this spontaneous verbalisation is not as efficient as induced verbalisation because, according to Frencham et al (2004), spontaneous labels may be less specific and consistent. Smyth et al (1988) also found that gestural and articulatory suppression hindered gestural learning.…”

“…Frencham, Fox and Maybery (2004) asked their participants to recall hand movements from the KHMT (the Kaufman Hand Movement Test).…”

Working memory for ballet moves and spatial locations in professional ballet dancers

“…They are defined as configural or patterned movements (Smyth & Pendleton, 1989;Woodin & Heil, 1996). As outlined in the introduction, a number of studies have provided evidence for a specific motor component in working memory (RossiArnaud et al, 2004;Smyth & Pendleton, 1989, 1990 while others have underlined the involvement of verbal components in the recall of patterned movements (Feyereisen & Van Der Linden, 1997;Frencham et al, 2003Frencham et al, , 2004.…”