title: Literacy: Exploring working memory systems.
abstract: Previous research showed an important association between reading and writing skills (literacy) and the phonological loop. However, the effects of literacy on other working memory components remain unclear. In this study, we investigated performance of illiterate subjects and their matched literate controls on verbal and nonverbal working memory tasks. Results revealed that the phonological loop is significantly influenced by literacy, while the visuospatial sketchpad appears to be less affected or not at all. Results also suggest that the central executive might be influenced by literacy, possibly as an expression of cognitive reserve.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Psychologie Cognitive, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Aix-Marseille Université, France. catarinagonzalez@gmail.com
authors.forename: Catarina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Luís
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Faísca
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ingvar
authors.forename: Karl Magnus
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Petersson
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Reis
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008570:Memory, Short-Term / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011932:Reading