Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-dsjbd Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-24T21:44:24.470Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Comparative study of visual and verbal short-term memory in English and Spanish speakers: Testing a linguistic hypothesis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 February 2009

Javier Olazaran ,
Diane M. Jacobs  and
Yaakov Stern
Javier Olazaran
Affiliation:
Department of Neurology and Gertrude H. Sergicvsky Center, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032
Diane M. Jacobs
Affiliation:
Department of Neurology and Gertrude H. Sergicvsky Center, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032
Yaakov Stern
Affiliation:
Department of Neurology and Gertrude H. Sergicvsky Center, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

It has been proposed that differences in digit span performance between English and Spanish speakers are due to the greater number of syllables per digit in the Spanish language. To test this hypothesis, we studied the performance of 30 English- and 30 Spanish-speaking elders on the Wcchsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised (WAIS-R) Digit Span Subtest, a modified digit span test that was linguistically comparable for both languages, and the Corsi Block Test. Consistent with previous reports, we found that English speakers scored significantly higher than Spanish speakers on WAIS-R Digit Span Forward. Group differences were reduced on the modified Digit Span Forward, but remained significant. English and Spanish speakers scored comparably on Digit Span Backward (WAIS-R and modified) and Visual Span. We suggest that although differences in the number of syllables per digit string are in part responsible for the lower performance of Spanish speakers on Digit Span Forward, cultural and educational issues also contribute to the observed differences between English and Spanish speakers. (J1NS, 1996, 2, 105–110.)

Keywords

Cross-culturalSpanishShort-term memoryDigit Span
Type
Research Articles
Information
Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society , Volume 2 , Issue 2 , March 1996 , pp. 105 - 110
Copyright
Copyright © The International Neuropsychological Society 1996

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Amante, D., Vanhouten, V.W., Grieve, J.H., Bader, C.A., & Margulcs, P.H. (1977). Neuropsychological deficit, ethnicity and socioeconomic status. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 45, 524–535.Google Scholar
Baddley, A.D. & Hitch, G. (1974). Working memory. In Bower, G.H. (Ed.), The psychology of learning and motivation (Vol. 8, pp. 47–89). New York: Academic Press.Google Scholar
Baddcley, A.D., Thomson, N., & Buchanan, M. (1975). Word length and the structure of short-term memory. Journal of Verbal Learning and Verbal Behavior, 14, 575–589.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bird, H.R., Canino, G., Stipec, M.R., & Shrout, P. (1987). Use of the Mini-Mental State Examination in a probability sample of a Hispanic population. Journal of Nervous and Mental Diseases, 175, 731–737.Google Scholar
Costa, L.D. (1975). The relation of visuospatial dysfunction to digit span performance in patients with cerebral lesions. Cortex, 11, 31–36.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ehrlich, M.F., Brebion, J., & Tardieu, H. (1994). Working memory capacity and reading comprehension in young and older adults. Psychological Research, 56, 110–115.Google Scholar
Ellis, N.C. & Hennelly, R.A. (1980). A bilingual word-length effect: Implications for intelligence testing and the relative ease for mental calculation in Welsh and English. British Journal of Psychology, 71, 43–51.Google Scholar
Escobar, J.I., Burnam, A., Karno, M., Forsythe, A., Lansverth, J., & Golding, J.M. (1986). Use of the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) in a community population of mixed ethnicity. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 174,607–614Google Scholar
Hollingshead, A.B. & Redlich, E.C. (1958). Social class and mental illness: A community study. New York: John Wiley & SonsGoogle Scholar
Hoosain, R. (1982). Correlation between pronunciation speed and digit span size. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 55, 1128CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lezak, M.D. (1983). Intellectual ability tests 1. The Wechsler Intelligence Scales. In Lezak, M.D., Neuropsychological assessment (2nd ed., pp. 239–286). New York: Oxford University PressGoogle Scholar
Loewenstein, D.A., Arguelles, T., Arguelles, S., & LinnFuentes, P. (1994). Potential neuropsychological bias in the neuropsychological assessment of the older adult. Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology, 16(4), 623–629Google Scholar
Loewenstein, D.A., Arguelles, T., Barker, W.W., & Duara, R. (1993). A comparative analysis of neuropsychological test performance of Spanish-speaking patients with Alzheimer's disease. Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences, 48 (3), 142–149CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Loewenstein, D.A. & Rupert, M.P. (1992). The NINCDSADRDA neuropsychological criteria for the assessment of dementia: Limitations of current diagnosis guidelines. Behavior, Health and Aging, 113–121Google Scholar
López, S.R. & Taussig, F.M. (1991). Cognitive-intellectual functioning of Spanish-speaking impaired and non impaired elderly: Implications for culturally sensitive assessment. Psychological Assessment: A Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 3, 448–454.Google Scholar
McCarthy, R.A. & Warrington, E.K. (1990). Short-term memory. In McCarthy, R.A. & E.K., Warrington, Cognitive neuropsychology: A clinical introduction (pp. 275–295). San Diego: Academic Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Milner, B. (1971). Interhemispheric differences in the localization of psychological processes in man. British Medical Bulletin, 27 (3), 272–277.Google Scholar
Naveh-Benjamin, M. & Ayres, T.J. (1986). Digit span, reading rate and linguistic relativity. Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology, 38, 739–751.Google Scholar
Stern, Y., Andrews, H., Pittman, J., Sano, M., Tatemichi, T., Lantigua, R., & Mayeux, R. (1992). Diagnosis of dementia in a heterogeneous population: Development of a neuropsychological paradigm-based diagnosis of dementia and quantified correction for the effects of education. Archives of Neurology, 49, 453–460.Google Scholar
Wechsler, D. (1968). Escala de Inteligencia Wechsler para Adultos. New York: The Psychological Corporation.Google Scholar
Wechsler, D. (1981). The Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised. New York: The Psychological Corporation.Google Scholar
Wcinberg, J., Diller, L., Gerstman, L., & Schulman, P. (1972). Digit span in right and left hemiplcgies. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 28, 361.3.0.CO;2-5>CrossRefGoogle Scholar