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Abstract:
Abstract: Working memory has been conceptualized as a central
executive along with two additional modules for the processing of
visual/spatial and auditory/verbal information. The latter of
these, known as the phonological loop, consists of a phonological
short-term store and an articulatory rehearsal mechanism.
Neuroimaging and neuropsychological data have suggested that these
two components may be mediated by distinct neurological processes,
with temporal and parietal areas responsible for the phonological
short-term store, and a frontal-cerebellar circuit responsible for
the articulatory mechanism. To assess the second part of this
hypothesis, we will test patients with frontal or cerebellar damage
on a verbal working memory task that is designed to illustrate (1)
the phonological similarity effect, which is associated with the
phonological short-term store, and (2) the word length effect,
which is associated with the articulatory mechanism. It is
predicted that for auditory stimuli the word length effect, but not
the phonological similarity effect, will be diminished in patients
with either frontal or cerebellar damage relative to controls.
Given the importance of the phonological loop for the acquisition
and comprehension of language, this research also may provide
further support for the involvement of the subcortical cerebellum
in one of the most specialized cognitive abilities of our
species.
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