Recently, the idea of short term memory metamorphosed as working memory. It is the memory where there is no data which lingers on a long period. Repeatedly studied is the ability on how to keep these data in the short term-memory to stay on like memories on a long term, thus the dawning of mnemonics and laboratory experiments concerning neurological and cognitive process.
However, it lends only minimal impact to sentence comprehension since it is only suited to retain single numerical sets of data or even sets of vocabulary or expressions, and not comprehensions which is innately complex.
Verbal working memory poses a great disadvantage to individuals who are poor in this skill. In sentence comprehension, same individuals are doubly underprivileged since after all what is their comprehension for if it lapses out of their memory quickly? People who have poor attention, who are poor in retention and are mentally retarded are the exact attributes of these challenges.
Psychological researches which aim to delve in this topic had a number of framed significant findings. One of which is a psychological architecture for human working memory. It actually came up with two components: articulatory loop and the visual-spatial scratch pad. These two are indispensable in any working environment, that it serves a functionary role: whenever a central executive needs a repository of information for instances such as an overload.
We also have many specific models where we can frame cognitive solutions to the problem. It is then where cognitive processes set in.
The study presented by David Caplan and Gloria Waters entitled the “Verbal Working Memory and Sentence Completion” offered insightful mental processes. One of which is the sentence comprehension and “working memory”. In here, knowledge workers are actually at the losing point, should they found it difficult to communicate and to receive information interwoven in complex syntactic structure of sentences. It is impossible for them to overcome knowledge tasks effectively. This is due to the poor background in sentence structures. Not to discount is the capacity to retain such already complex sentence which has, for example, multiple and individual units.
While the latter lies in the interpretive aspect of complex sentences, the second, which is the sentence comprehension and working memory capacity in “normal subject,” encompasses a plethora of verbal tasks. There is this notion that an anatomy of parts can serve specializations necessary to different verbal tasks and it is in this study where it is contented.
There are two “basic approaches” which are: to determine the relationship of individual differences and to investigate the pattern of mutual interference. It is in these two outlined basic approaches that single resource (SR) and separate sentence interpretation resource (SSIR) were framed. These two resources however provided no clear-cut comparison, contrast and definition with regards to the two basic approaches.
In this discipline there are four internal and mental processing namely individual differences in Speed and Accuracy of Syntactic Processing, wherein it embarked on the problem of the individual to process sentence comprehension and working memory remedied by word-by-word reading, self-paced reading and other reading devices or techniques; the Effects of an External Memory Load on Speed and Accuracy of Syntactic Processing, wherein it emphasize setbacks encountered in loading memory consummate to a system overload; Effect of the Combination of External Memory Load and Individual Differences in Working Memory Capacity on Speed and Accuracy of Syntactic Processing, wherein it pose challenges to more complex yet larger sentences that are already fed up by the size of load; and Some Considerations herein, such as ethical and mechanical considerations of the study and of the practice.
There is also the reduced working memory capacity which can be associated to patients with memory loss and impairments rather than with comprehension road blocks. Types of which are those with short term memory disorders, limitations in the central executive and with reduced resources for syntactic processing. Matters concerning short term auditory verbal memory impairments are associated to working memory disorder. Matters, then which are concerning psycho-physiological illnesses, the best example of which is that of Alzheimer’s, is a limitation in the central executive. And those with impairment in syntactic processing in sentence comprehension, the best example of which is the uncommon ailment Aphasia, are all about the reduced resources for syntactic processing.
There is also the fractionating verbal working memory. It is where it is initially remarked the reduction in the capacity of the verbal working memory. And it pointed out that working memory system involved in sentence interpretation is “separate from that measured by standard tests of working memory.” Meaning that there is more to sentence interpretation than what we had known it to be and that is starkly different from the one we viewed it ordinarily in our day-to-day working memory.
It also made mention of many operations like acoustic-phonetic conversion, lexical access, recognition of “intonatial” contours and determination of discourse level semantic values. In laymen’s point of view it changes the landscape of literacy from the simple read, write, speak, count but also with differentiating and being aware of changes in intonation, literary undertones from thought to rhymes. But as it was pointed out these are in fact, natural and unconscious to individuals simply just like watching a concert and being keen with the action and the lines.
It goes to add that there was a part in the brain known as the perisylvian association cortex which is critical “for all language interpretive functions.” In this case, future studies which may have something to do in this field might focus this specific part in our gray matter to uncover wonders in our brains.
It should be noted lastly that working environment misses this point instead thought of extrinsic matters to counter undone work loads and piles. Belated will be the realization when a single sentence was erroneously transmitted due to unheeded calls in this discipline to somehow be aware of matters concerning the working memory and comprehension, and even interpretation central to sentence structure and word organization.
Reference: Verbal Working Memory and Sentence Completion, Caplan, D. and Waters, G., The Journal of Neuroscience (1999)
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