title: The Ease of Language Understanding (ELU) model: theoretical, empirical, and clinical advances.
abstract: Working memory is important for online language processing during conversation. We use it to maintain relevant information, to inhibit or ignore irrelevant information, and to attend to conversation selectively. Working memory helps us to keep track of and actively participate in conversation, including taking turns and following the gist. This paper examines the Ease of Language Understanding model (i.e., the ELU model, Rönnberg, 2003; Rönnberg et al., 2008) in light of new behavioral and neural findings concerning the role of working memory capacity (WMC) in uni-modal and bimodal language processing. The new ELU model is a meaning prediction system that depends on phonological and semantic interactions in rapid implicit and slower explicit processing mechanisms that both depend on WMC albeit in different ways. It is based on findings that address the relationship between WMC and (a) early attention processes in listening to speech, (b) signal processing in hearing aids and its effects on short-term memory, (c) inhibition of speech maskers and its effect on episodic long-term memory, (d) the effects of hearing impairment on episodic and semantic long-term memory, and finally, (e) listening effort. New predictions and clinical implications are outlined. Comparisons with other WMC and speech perception models are made.
authors.affiliation: Department of Behavioural Sciences and Learning, Linköping University Linköping, Sweden ; Linnaeus Centre HEAD, Swedish Institute for Disability Research, Linköping University Linköping, Sweden.
authors.forename: Jerker
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rönnberg
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lunner
authors.forename: Adriana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zekveld
authors.forename: Patrik
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sörqvist
authors.forename: Henrik
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Danielsson
authors.forename: Björn
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lyxell
authors.forename: Orjan
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Dahlström
authors.forename: Carine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Signoret
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stenfelt
authors.forename: M Kathleen
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Pichora-Fuller
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rudner
keywords: attention; brain imaging analysis; hearing loss; language understanding; long-term memory; oscillations; speech in noise; working memory capacity