The phonological loop unmasked? A comment on the evidence for a “perceptual-gestural” alternative

Abstract

Jones et al. (Jones, Hughes, & Macken, 2006; Jones, Macken, & Nicholls, 2004) identify the interaction between phonological similarity, articulatory suppression, and stimulus presentation mode in verbal short-term memory as potentially providing important support for the phonological loop hypothesis. They find such an interaction but attribute it to "perceptual organization masquerading as phonological storage". We present data using shorter letter sequences and find clear evidence of the interaction predicted by the phonological loop hypothesis, which, unlike the evidence of Jones et al., is not limited to recency, and which provides continued support for the phonological loop hypothesis.

Role of serial order in the impact of talker variability on short-term memory: testing a perceptual organization-based account

“…Phonological store-based accounts Some previous accounts of talker variability effects in serial STM have appealed to item-level processes (Goldinger et al, 1991;Martin et al, 1989) and are couched in terms of the phonological loop component of the working memory model (Baddeley & Hitch, 1974; for more recent accounts, see Baddeley, 2007;Baddeley & Larsen, 2007) rather than perceptual-sequence organization processes, as emphasized here. For example, Martin et al (1989) suggested that with a multiple-voice list there may be a cost associated with discarding the task-irrelevant variation in the voice (e.g., pitch, accent) conveying each successive item as part of a speech normalization process (cf.…”

The effects of intervening interference on working memory for sound location as a function of inter-comparison interval

“…Working memory serves as a temporary storage and processing mechanism that assists in many cognitive tasks (Baddeley and Larsen, 2007;Bayliss et al, 2005;Cowan et al, 2005), including processes involving acoustic percepts amassed from one's environment. (Anourova et al, 1999;Clément et al, 1999;Deutsch, 1970Deutsch, , 1972aDeutsch, ,b, 1978Durlach and Braida, 1969;Harris, 1952;Jump and Ries, 2008;Litovsky and Macmillan, 1994;Martinkauppi et al, 2000;Massaro, 1970;Ries and DiGiovanni, 2007;Turner et al, 1989;Vuontela et al, 2003).…”

Working Memory: Theories, Models, and Controversies

“…Jones et al (2006) have suggested that the effect is limited to the recency component of immediate serial recall, suggesting that it is better regarded as a perceptual effect. However, although this may be true for long lists, shorter lists show an effect that operates throughout the serial position curve (Baddeley & Larsen 2007). Colle & Welsh (1976) required their participants to recall sequences of visually presented digits presented either in silence or accompanied by white noise or by speech in an unfamiliar language that they were told to ignore.…”