Short-term phonological memory and long-term learning: A single case study

Abstract

The study concerns S.R., a graduate student with a specific deficit in short-term phonological memory, whose performance on a range of memory and learning tasks is compared to a group of six fellow students. S.R. performed at a consistently lower level than the controls on a range of tasks involving short-term verbal memory, including digit span, nonword repetition, memory for dissimilar and similar consonants and words, and memory for words differing in length. He nevertheless showed normal effects of phonological similarity and word length, suggesting that his phonological loop was qualitatively normal. Short-term memory for visual patterns was normal. Long-term memory was tested using the Doors and People Test. This showed excellent visual recognition and pattern learning memory, coupled with poor performance on recognition or recall of names. By analogy with a patient with an acquired deficit in short-term phonological memory, it was predicted that S.R. would show normal verbal learning of pairs of meaningful English words, but would be impaired in his capacity for new phonological learning as reflected in the acquisition of Finnish vocabulary. This proved to be the case, providing further evidence for the role of the phonological loop in long-term learning.