title: Social Communication Impairs Working-Memory Performance.
abstract: Performance on working-memory tests is frequently used in experimental psychology and neuroscience, as well as in neuropsychological testing and clinical screening. It can be strongly affected by the social context and the communication style of the experimenter. We tested this hypothesis in two experiments, examining standardized neuropsychological working-memory tests in different social communication contexts. Our results show that the more ostensive communication context (eye contact, exaggerated intonation contours) impairs working-memory performance. These results draw attention to the fact that the communication style of the examiner could have a robust effect on working-memory performance and could even modify clinical diagnosis.
authors: a Department of Clinical Psychology and Addiction , Institute of Psychology, Eötvös Loránd University , Budapest , Hungary.
authors: Dezso
authors: D
authors: Nemeth
authors: b Institute of Psychology, University of Szeged , Szeged , Hungary.
authors: Adam Balint
authors: AB
authors: Turcsik
authors: b Institute of Psychology, University of Szeged , Szeged , Hungary.
authors: Gabriella
authors: G
authors: Farkas
authors: a Department of Clinical Psychology and Addiction , Institute of Psychology, Eötvös Loránd University , Budapest , Hungary.
authors: Karolina
authors: K
authors: Janacsek
keywords: live speech and recorded voice; natural pedagogy; neuropsychological testing; ostensive communication; social influences; third-party observer; working memory