Syntax and serial recall: How language supports short-term memory for order.
The extent to which familiar syntax supports short-term serial recall of visually presented six-item sequences was shown by the superior recall of lists in which item pairs appeared in the order of "adjective-noun" (items 1-2, 3-4, 5-6)--congruent with English syntax--compared to when the order of items within pairs was reversed. The findings complement other evidence suggesting that short-term memory is an assemblage of language processing and production processes more than it is a bespoke short-term memory storage system.
Perham
Nick
N
University of Wales Institute, Cardiff, Cardiff, UK. nperham@uwic.ac.uk
Marsh
John E
JE
Jones
Dylan M
DM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008570:Memory, Short-Term / Q000502:physiology*; D011939:Mental Recall / Q000502:physiology*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012660:Semantics; D012691:Serial Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult