Working memory for meaningless manual gestures.

Abstract

Effects on working memory performance relating to item similarity have been linked to prior categorisation of representations in long-term memory. However, there is evidence from gesture processing that this link may not be obligatory. The present study investigated whether working memory for incidentally generated meaningless manual gestures is influenced by formational similarity and whether this effect is modulated by working-memory load. Results showed that formational similarity did lower performance, demonstrating that similarity effects are not dependent on prior categorisation. However, this effect was only found when working-memory load was low, supporting a flexible resource allocation model according to which it is the quality rather than quantity of working memory representations that determines performance. This interpretation is in line with proposals suggesting language modality specific allocation of resources in working memory.

Preexisting semantic representation improves working memory performance in the visuospatial domain

“…Instead, we suggest that a parsimonious explanation of the significant effect of semantic representation on n-back WM performance with no effect of phonological representation, is that semantic, but not phonological information, is used in determining the n-back match. Although previous work has shown an effect of speech-based phonological similarity on performance on an n-back task, imaging results suggested that phonological similarity among items presented during an n-back task led to strategic disengagement of executive and language functions in the face of distracting information (Sweet et al, 2008), possibly leading to a less distinct representation of items in terms of their phonological content (Rudner, 2015) when this information is not explicitly required for solving the task . It is possible that phonological information is systematically suppressed during n-back processing when it does not specifically contribute to task solution, which in this case requires determining whether items are identical.…”

“…These include not only phonological similarity, but also the length of to-be-remembered items as well as articulatory suppression (Baddeley, 2012), and there is evidence to suggest similar effects for sign language (for a review see Wilson, 2001). Effects of formational similarity have also been found for nonsigns (Wilson & Fox, 2007) and meaningless gestures (Rudner, 2015).…”

“…Because there is evidence that non-signers are sensitive to regularities in non-signs (Wilson & Fox, 2007) we included a fourth kind of material that consisted of meaningless non-linguistic manual actions in the form of ball-catching events. Other work has shown that such items can be successfully processed in WM by hearing non-signers, despite limited diversity in the motoric gestures involved (Rudner, 2015).…”

“…The n-back procedure avoids the need for articulation which is likely to be better for items with pre-existing representation compared to those without, and it has previous been used successfully to study WM for sign language (Rudner et al,. 2007; and gestures (Rudner, 2015). The n-back paradigm also allows 7 parametric manipulation of WM load (Barch et al, 1997), enabling investigation of potential interactions between load, material and group.…”

“…Because we wished to test WM for items with and without pre-existing representation we chose to use an n-back paradigm (Rudner, 2015). The n-back procedure avoids the need for articulation which is likely to be better for items with pre-existing representation compared to those without, and it has previous been used successfully to study WM for sign language (Rudner et al,.…”