The role of phonological and semantic representations in verbal short-term memory and delayed retention

Abstract

It has been suggested that phonological representations play a central role in verbal short-term memory, but when semantic knowledge has been investigated, it has also been shown to influence verbal short-term memory. Explaining this interaction between verbal short-term memory and the linguistic system has produced different theoretical positions: whether semantic knowledge is used to redintegrate phonological traces or if there is direct activation of both phonological and semantic knowledge upon encountering a word. The present study employed a new paradigm to systematically examine phonological and semantic representations in verbal short-term memory as well as long-term impacts. Across two experiments, a list of words was presented sequentially, followed by a probe word. Participants were to judge whether the probe word rhymed or was synonymous with any items on the list. Delayed memory was also tested. In Experiment 1, we found that immediate performance was better for synonym than rhyme judgements, and this continued to be the case after a brief delay. In Experiment 2, under a fast-encoding, running-span paradigm, we found similar activation of phonological and semantic knowledge. Nevertheless, accuracy was again higher for items probed with the semantic than rhyme cue in the long term. Results showed that indeed there are short-term semantic effects, in addition to phonological effects. Further, semantic processing can occur in a highly automatic and rapid manner, with strong influence on long-term memory. These findings provide a new perspective on viewing verbal short-term memory as operating more dynamically within the context of a complex linguistic system.

Lexical connectivity effects in immediate serial recall of words.

“…Siew & Vitevitch, 2016); a plausible explanation is that such words receive “supportive activation” from more neighboring words in long-term memory (Roodenrys et al, 2002). While phonological factors play a central role in serial recall performance, item-level semantic attributes also influence recall with concrete words better recalled than abstract words (Miller & Roodenrys, 2009; Nation et al, 1999; Walker & Hulme, 1999; see also Pham & Archibald, 2021). Walker and Hulme (1999) argued that concrete words have stronger semantic representations; thereby, facilitating the ease with which they are recalled.…”

Lexical connectivity effects in immediate serial recall of words

“…Another phonological attribute that affects performance is phonological neighbourhood size such that words with more phonological neighbours tend to be better recalled than words with fewer neighbours (Roodenrys, Lethbridge, Hinton, Nimmo, & Hulme, 2002; see also Vitevitch, Chan, & Roodenrys, 2012); a plausible explanation is that such words receive "supportive activation" from more neighbouring words in long-term memory (Roodenrys et al, 2002). While phonological factors play a central role in serial recall performance, item-level semantic attributes also influence recall with concrete words better recalled than abstract words (Miller & Roodenrys, 2009;Nation, Adams, Bowyer-Crane, & Snowling, 1999;Walker & Hulme, 1999; see also Pham and Archibald, 2021). Walker and Hulme (1999) argued that concrete words have stronger semantic representations, thereby facilitating the ease with which they are recalled.…”