A cross-language study of verbal and visuospatial working memory span

Abstract

This cross-language study of working memory compared 30 English speakers and 30 Mandarin Chinese speakers on backward and forward digit and spatial span. Mandarin speakers had greater spans on forward digit and spatial span than did English speakers. Effects were most significant for digit span where the mean score of the English speakers was equivalent to the lowest individual score from Mandarin speakers. Shorter articulation time for digits in spoken Mandarin may account for higher digit spans than those observed in English. The current study indicates that clinical applications of working memory tests should consider cross-language effects, particularly in the evaluation of verbal working memory deficits.

Keywords:

• Working memory
• Verbal span
• Spatial span
• Cross-language
• Mandarin Chinese

The authors thank Sandra Whiteside for phonetic transcriptions and Carrie Ankerstein for contributions to participant recruitment and data collection. We also thank Celia Hsu for her help with the Mandarin digits.