Oral Verbalization as Interference in Running Memory

Abstract

When Ss performing a running memory task had to speak aloud the name of a viewed symbol that was to be matched with a previously seen symbol, a significant increase in errors was produced. The control condition was the same task performed without oral naming of the viewed symbol. Since both running memory conditions required exact identification of the viewed symbol, the error increase was attributed to the requirement of speaking aloud rather than to any cognitive difficulty in symbol naming. Comparison of the above 2 conditions with 3 other interference conditions showed that the error increase from oral symbol naming was about as large as the error increase from conditions that required Ss to perform activities irrelevant to the memory task or from a condition which decreased the time to perform each memory match by 1 sec.