Localizing Localization: The Role of Working Memory in Auditory Localization

Abstract

It is unclear from current accounts of working memory which, if any, of its components might be involved in our ability to specify the location of a sound source. A series of studies were performed to assess the degree of interference in localization of broadband noise, by a concurrent articulatory suppression (articulatory loop - Experiment 1), serial recall (phonological store and articulatory loop - Experiment 2), and Paced Visual Serial Addition Test (central executive - Experiment 3). No significant disruption of auditory localization was revealed by the first two experiments, ruling out a role for the phonological loop in auditory localization. In Experiment 3, a large degree of error was exhibited in localization, when performed concurrently with the addition task, indicating a requirement for central resources. This suggestion is confirmed by comparison of localization performance across all three studies, which demonstrates a clear deterioration in performance as the demand of concurrent tasks on central resources increases. Finally, concurrent localization was shown to disrupt the primacy portion of the serial position curve, as well as performance on the Paced Visual Serial Addition Test. Il est difficile de determiner, sur la base du modele de memoire de travail, laquelle de ses composantes pourrait etre impliquee dans notre capacite a localiser la provenance d'un son. Une serie d'etudes evaluent le degre d'interference dans la localisation d'un bruit, lors d'une suppression articulatoire simultanee (boucle articulatoire - Experience 1), d'un rappel seriel (registre phonologique et boucle articulatoire - Experience 2) et d'une tache d'addition (unite de gestion central - Experience 3). Aucune perturbation de la localisation auditive n'a ete revelee dans les deux premieres experiences, eliminant le role de la boucle phonologique dans la localisation auditive. Dans l'experience 3, un grand nombre d'erreurs de localisation a ete observe lorsque cette tache etait effectuee en meme temps qu'une tache d'addition, indiquant l'utilisation de ressources centrales. Ceci est confirmee lorsque la performance de localisation aux trois experiences est comparee. Cette comparaison montre une deterioration de la performance qui est fonction des ressources sollicitees par la tache concurrente. Finalement, le fait d'effectuer la localisation simultanement avec une autre tache nuit au rappel des premiers items ainsi qu'a la performance au test d'addition.