Research article summary (published 29 Jun 2009):

Can imageability help us draw the line between storage and composition?

Full Abstract

Language requires both storage and composition. However, exactly what is retrieved from memory and what is assembled remains controversial, especially for inflected words. Here, "imageability effects" is introduced as a new diagnostic of storage and a complement to frequency effects. In 2 studies of past-tense morphology, more reliable imageability and frequency effects were found on irregulars than on regulars. An interaction with sex was also observed: Males but not females showed more reliable frequency and imageability effects for irregulars than for regulars; females but not males showed signs of storage for regulars, particularly among higher frequency forms. Overall, the findings validate imageability effects as another diagnostic of storage and suggest that the line between storage and computation is not a simple function; rather, it depends upon the interplay of both item- and subject-specific factors.

Author information

Author/s: Prado, Elizabeth L (EL); Ullman, Michael T (MT);

Affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA.

Grants: R01 HD049347 (Agency:NICHD NIH HHS) ; R01 MH58189 (Agency:NIMH NIH HHS)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

Journal: Journal of experimental psychology. Learning, memory, and cognition (J Exp Psychol Learn Mem Cogn), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2009-Jul; vol 35 (issue 4) : pp 849-66

Dates: Created 2009/07/09; Completed 2009/08/25;

PMID: 19586257, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 8/25/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adolescent Adult Association Learning - physiology Female Humans Imagination - physiology Language Linear Models Male

Male Memory - physiology Middle Aged Psycholinguistics Reaction Time - physiology Sex Characteristics Verbal Learning - physiology Vocabulary Young Adult

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