Does number data entry rely on the phonological loop?

Abstract

Two experiments investigated effects of articulatory processing on number data entry. Participants entered four‐digit numbers presented as either words or numerals on a keyboard, either under an articulatory condition or in silence. In Experiment 1, the articulatory condition was articulatory suppression; in Experiment 2, it was vocalisation. In Experiment 1, the articulatory suppression group typed initial digits faster than the silent group, but for subsequent digits, the opposite pattern occurred at least with word stimuli. In Experiment 2, the silent group typed initial digits faster but typed subsequent digits somewhat slower than the vocalisation group. Thus, articulation of numbers, which promotes entry into the phonological loop of working memory, retards processing of initial digits but enhances processing of subsequent digits.

Notes

Correspondence should be addressed to Alice F. Healy, Department of Psychology, 345 UCB, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, 80309‐0345, USA. Email: [email protected]

This research was supported in part by Army Research Institute Contracts DASW01‐96‐K‐0010, DASW01‐99‐K‐0002, and DASW01‐03‐K‐0002 and Army Research Office Grant DAAG55‐98‐1‐0214 to the University of Colorado. We are indebted to Lyle Bourne, Lise Menn, and Robert Hughes for helpful comments and suggestions about this research.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Carolyn J. Buck‐Gengler

Correspondence should be addressed to Alice F. Healy, Department of Psychology, 345 UCB, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, 80309‐0345, USA. Email: [email protected] This research was supported in part by Army Research Institute Contracts DASW01‐96‐K‐0010, DASW01‐99‐K‐0002, and DASW01‐03‐K‐0002 and Army Research Office Grant DAAG55‐98‐1‐0214 to the University of Colorado. We are indebted to Lyle Bourne, Lise Menn, and Robert Hughes for helpful comments and suggestions about this research.