Modality-specific processing streams in verbal working memory: evidence from spatio-temporal patterns of brain activity.

D S Ruchkin; R S Berndt; R Johnson; W Ritter; J Grafman; H L Canoune

doi:10.1016/s0926-6410(97)00021-9

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Modality-specific processing streams in verbal working memory: evidence from spatio-temporal patterns of brain activity.

D S Ruchkin·R S Berndt·R Johnson·W Ritter·J Grafman·H L Canoune

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Abstract

The present study was concerned with whether there are separate, modality-specific processing "streams" in verbal working memory for information that is heard or read. We used event-related brain potentials (ERPs) recorded from scalp of normal humans to show between-modality differences in spatio-temporal patterns of brain activity during retention in working memory of aurally or visually presented verbal information. The ERP patterns suggested that a sustained, automatically maintained auditory store was activated by auditory presentation and a transient, visual-verbal store was activated by visual presentation. In addition to these modality-specific differences, the ERPs indicated that the phonological loop was activated in both modalities and further suggested that the onset of phonological loop activation was earlier for auditory presentation.

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Acoustic Stimulation Adolescent Adult Auditory Perception Brain Electroencephalography Evoked Potentials Female Humans Male Memory, Short-Term Photic Stimulation Reaction Time Verbal Learning Clinical Trial Journal Article Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

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D S Ruchkin, R S Berndt, R Johnson, W Ritter, J Grafman, H L Canoune. 1997. Modality-specific processing streams in verbal working memory: evidence from spatio-temporal patterns of brain activity.. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0926-6410(97)00021-9

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