Phonological and visuo-spatial working memory alterations in dyslexic children.
BACKGROUND
Working memory allows the retention of a limited amount of information for a brief period of time and the manipulation of that information. This study was undertaken to compare possible differences in working memory between dyslexic and control children.


METHODS
To test the executive central process that controls attention, subjects were requested to assemble a 100-piece puzzle. To test the phonological loop, subjects were requested to repeat orally a 10-item list with the following characteristics: digits spanning two numbers; phonologically similar words, and unfamiliar pseudowords. The visuo-spatial sketchpad was tested by means of assembling a 25-piece puzzle.


RESULTS
Forty dyslexic and and forty control children were studied. Dyslexic children recall a lesser number of similar words in the phonological loop and spend a longer time in puzzle assembly in the visuo-spatial sketchpad. No statistical difference in the central executive process was found.


CONCLUSIONS
Present results suggest the importance of visuo-spatial and phonological loop alterations in dyslexic children that may result in difficulties with similar words and spatial information.
Poblano
A
A
Laboratorio de Fisiología, Instituto de la Comunicación Humana, Mexico, D.F., Mexico. apoblano@df1.telmex.net.mx
Valadéz-Tepec
T
T
de Lourdes Arias
M
M
García-Pedroza
F
F
D002648:Child; D004410:Dyslexia / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008570:Memory, Short-Term; D013060:Speech; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D014785:Vision, Ocular