Working memory functioning in developmental dyslexia.

Journal article


Smith-Spark, JH and Fisk, JE (2007). Working memory functioning in developmental dyslexia. Memory. 15 (1), pp. 34-56. https://doi.org/10.1080/09658210601043384
AuthorsSmith-Spark, JH and Fisk, JE
Abstract

Working memory impairments in dyslexia are well documented. However, research has mostly been limited to the phonological domain, a modality in which people with dyslexia have a range of problems. In this paper, 22 adult students with dyslexia and 22 age- and IQ-matched controls were presented with both verbal and visuospatial working memory tasks. Performance was compared on measures of simple span, complex span (requiring both storage and processing), and dynamic memory updating in the two domains. The dyslexic group had significantly lower spans than the controls on all the verbal tasks, both simple and complex, and also on the spatial complex span measure. Impairments remained on the complex span measures after controlling statistically for simple span performance, suggesting a central executive impairment in dyslexia. The novelty of task demands on the initial trials of the spatial updating task also proved more problematic for the dyslexic than control participants. The results are interpreted in terms of extant theories of dyslexia. The possibility of a supervisory attentional system deficit in dyslexia is also raised. It seems clear that working memory difficulties in dyslexia extend into adulthood, can affect performance in both the phonological and visuospatial modalities, and implicate central executive dysfunction, in addition to problems with storage.

KeywordsHumans; Dyslexia; Case-Control Studies; Cognition; Memory, Short-Term; Adolescent; Adult; Female; Male; Adolescent; Adult; Case-Control Studies; Cognition; Dyslexia; Female; Humans; Male; Memory, Short-Term; 1701 Psychology; 1702 Cognitive Science; Experimental Psychology
Year2007
JournalMemory
Journal citation15 (1), pp. 34-56
PublisherTaylor & Francis
ISSN0965-8211
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1080/09658210601043384
Publication dates
Print19 Feb 2007
Publication process dates
Deposited20 Mar 2017
Accepted19 Feb 2007
Accepted author manuscript
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