title: Role of serial order in the impact of talker variability on short-term memory: testing a perceptual organization-based account.
abstract: In two experiments, we examined the impact of the degree of match between sequential auditory perceptual organization processes and the demands of a short-term memory task (memory for order vs. item information). When a spoken sequence of digits was presented so as to promote its perceptual partitioning into two distinct streams by conveying it in alternating female (F) and male (M) voices (FMFMFMFM)--thereby disturbing the perception of true temporal order--recall of item order was greatly impaired (as compared to recall of item identity). Moreover, an order error type consistent with the formation of voice-based streams was committed more quickly in the alternating-voice condition (Exp. 1). In contrast, when the perceptual organization of the sequence mapped well onto an optimal two-group serial rehearsal strategy--by presenting the two voices in discrete clusters (FFFFMMMM)--order, but not item, recall was enhanced (Exp. 2). The results are consistent with the view that the degree of compatibility between perceptual and deliberate sequencing processes is a key determinant of serial short-term memory performance. Alternative accounts of talker variability effects in short-term memory, based on the concept of a dedicated phonological short-term store and a capacity-limited focus of attention, are also reviewed.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3AT, UK. HughesRW@cardiff.ac.uk
authors.forename: Robert W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Hughes
authors.forename: John E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Marsh
authors.forename: Dylan M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Jones
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001307:Auditory Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008570:Memory, Short-Term / Q000502:physiology*; D011939:Mental Recall / Q000502:physiology*; D013067:Speech Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D013998:Time Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D014831:Voice / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult