Serial recall of rhythms and verbal sequences: Impacts of concurrent tasks and irrelevant sound

Abstract

Rhythmic grouping enhances verbal serial recall, yet very little is known about memory for rhythmic patterns. The aim of this study was to compare the cognitive processes supporting memory for rhythmic and verbal sequences using a range of concurrent tasks and irrelevant sounds. In Experiment 1, both concurrent articulation and paced finger tapping during presentation and during a retention interval impaired rhythm recall, while letter recall was only impaired by concurrent articulation. In Experiments 2 and 3, irrelevant sound consisted of irrelevant speech or tones, changing-state or steady-state sound, and syncopated or paced sound during presentation and during a retention interval. Irrelevant speech was more damaging to rhythm and letter recall than was irrelevant tone sound, but there was no effect of changing state on rhythm recall, while letter recall accuracy was disrupted by changing-state sound. Pacing of sound did not consistently affect either rhythm or letter recall. There are similarities in the way speech and rhythms are processed that appear to extend beyond reliance on temporal coding mechanisms involved in serial-order recall.

Keywords:

• Rhythm
• Acoustic storage
• Short-term memory
• Articulatory suppression
• Timing

Acknowledgments

This work was completed as part of the first author's PhD thesis at the University of York and the University of Durham, funded by ESRC (Economic and Social Research Council) studentship PTA030200300883. The authors are grateful to Bob Metcalfe for developing the computerized rhythm task and for the helpful comments and suggestions of two anonymous reviewers.

Notes

¹ Fisher's least significant difference was used in pairwise comparisons, which is appropriate when comparing two experimental conditions against a control (Curran-Everett, 2000).