title: Chunking improves symbolic sequence processing and relies on working memory gating mechanisms.
abstract: Chunking, namely the grouping of sequence elements in clusters, is ubiquitous during sequence processing, but its impact on performance remains debated. Here, we found that participants who adopted a consistent chunking strategy during symbolic sequence learning showed a greater improvement of their performance and a larger decrease in cognitive workload over time. Stronger reliance on chunking was also associated with higher scores in a WM updating task, suggesting the contribution of WM gating mechanisms to sequence chunking. Altogether, these results indicate that chunking is a cost-saving strategy that enhances effectiveness of symbolic sequence learning.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neuroscience, Université catholique de Louvain, 1200 Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Oleg
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Solopchuk
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neuroscience, Université catholique de Louvain, 1200 Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alamia
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neuroscience, Université catholique de Louvain, 1200 Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Etienne
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Olivier
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neuroscience, Université catholique de Louvain, 1200 Brussels, Belgium alexandre.zenon@uclouvain.be.
authors.forename: Alexandre
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zénon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning; D008297:Male; D008570:Memory, Short-Term; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D011680:Pupil; D011930:Reaction Time; D055815:Young Adult