Load and distinctness interact in working memory for lexical manual gestures

Frontiers in Psychology
Mary RudnerEmil Holmer

Abstract

The Ease of Language Understanding model (Rönnberg et al., 2013) predicts that decreasing the distinctness of language stimuli increases working memory load; in the speech domain this notion is supported by empirical evidence. Our aim was to determine whether such an over-additive interaction can be generalized to sign processing in sign-naïve individuals and whether it is modulated by experience of computer gaming. Twenty young adults with no knowledge of sign language performed an n-back working memory task based on manual gestures lexicalized in sign language; the visual resolution of the signs and working memory load were manipulated. Performance was poorer when load was high and resolution was low. These two effects interacted over-additively, demonstrating that reducing the resolution of signed stimuli increases working memory load when there is no pre-existing semantic representation. This suggests that load and distinctness are handled by a shared amodal mechanism which can be revealed empirically when stimuli are degraded and load is high, even without pre-existing semantic representation. There was some evidence that the mechanism is influenced by computer gaming experience. Future work should explore how the shared m...Continue Reading

References

Dec 1, 1987·Journal of the Optical Society of America. A, Optics and Image Science·M PavelA Vanderbeek
Feb 5, 1998·Psychological Review·A BaddeleyC Papagno
Sep 25, 1999·Behavior Research Methods, Instruments, & Computers : a Journal of the Psychonomic Society, Inc·H Stanislaw, N Todorov
May 2, 2003·Behavior Research Methods, Instruments, & Computers : a Journal of the Psychonomic Society, Inc·Kenneth I Forster, Jonathan C Forster
Jun 9, 2004·Brain Research. Cognitive Brain Research·Jerker RönnbergMartin Ingvar
Oct 26, 2005·Brain and Language·Bradley BuchsbaumGregory Hickok
Mar 21, 2008·Journal of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education·Mary Rudner, Jerker Rönnberg
Jun 17, 2008·Science·Erika DahlinLars Nyberg
Sep 26, 2009·Scandinavian Journal of Psychology·Mary RudnerJerker Rönnberg
Nov 19, 2009·Neuropsychology, Development, and Cognition. Section B, Aging, Neuropsychology and Cognition·Mary RudnerJerker Ronnberg
Apr 22, 2010·Nature·Adrian M OwenClive G Ballard
May 7, 2011·Journal of the American Academy of Audiology·Mary RudnerThomas Lunner
Oct 4, 2011·Annual Review of Psychology·Alan Baddeley
Sep 8, 2012·The Journal of Neuroscience : the Official Journal of the Society for Neuroscience·Jonas ObleserBurkhard Maess
Feb 14, 2013·Nature Communications·Velia CardinBencie Woll
Mar 1, 2013·Nature·Daphne Bavelier, Richard J Davidson
May 21, 2013·Hearing Research·Sophie K Scott, Carolyn McGettigan
Jun 21, 2013·Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research : JSLHR·Sushmit MishraMary Rudner
Jul 23, 2013·Frontiers in Systems Neuroscience·Jerker RönnbergMary Rudner
Jul 23, 2013·Frontiers in Human Neuroscience·Steve Majerus
Sep 6, 2013·Nature·J A AngueraA Gazzaley
Dec 11, 2013·Frontiers in Systems Neuroscience·Sushmit MishraMary Rudner
Feb 27, 2014·Nature Neuroscience·Wei Ji MaPaul M Bays
Jun 7, 2014·Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience·Sushmit MishraMary Rudner
Jun 28, 2014·BioMed Research International·Mary Rudner, Thomas Lunner
Nov 12, 2014·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Vikranth R BejjankiDaphne Bavelier
Mar 3, 2015·Canadian Journal of Experimental Psychology = Revue Canadienne De Psychologie Expérimentale·Mary Rudner
Mar 10, 2015·Frontiers in Psychology·Eline B PetersenThomas Lunner
Jun 15, 2015·Acta Psychologica·Joseph D Chisholm, Alan Kingstone

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Jan 1, 2019·Journal of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education·Marc MarscharkDawn Walton
Jun 30, 2016·Ear and Hearing·M Kathleen Pichora-FullerArthur Wingfield
Feb 5, 2019·International Journal of Audiology·Jerker RönnbergMary Rudner
Jun 30, 2016·Ear and Hearing·Mary Rudner

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Software Mentioned

DMDX

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.