The Memorisation of Verbal and Nonverbal Serial Information by Children 9–11 Years Old

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Recieved: 09/28/2023

Accepted: 10/19/2024

Published: 12/01/2024

Keywords: working memory; serial information; verbal memory; nonverbal memory; delayed reproduction

p.: 132-147

DOI: 10.11621/npj.2024.0409

Available online: 02.12.2024

To cite this article:

Korneev, A.A., Lomakin, D.I., Kurgansky, A.V., Machinskaya, R.I.. The Memorisation of Verbal and Nonverbal Serial Information by Children 9–11 Years Old. // National Psychological Journal 2024. 4. p.132-147. doi: 10.11621/npj.2024.0409

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Korneev, A.A. Lomonosov Moscow State University, Institute of Child Development, Health and Adaptation

Lomakin, D.I. Institute of Child Development, Health and Adaptation

Kurgansky, A.V. The Institute of Higher Nervous Activity and Neurophysiology of RAS, Russian Academy of National Economy and Public Administration under the President of the Russian Federation

Machinskaya, R.I. Institute of Child Development, Health and Adaptation, Russian Academy of National Economy and Public Administration under the President of the Russian Federation

Abstract

Background. The mechanisms of serial information retention in working memory (WM) in children are an important and debated topic. They are related to both general theoretical ideas regarding memory and practical issues of learning organisation. Despite numerous studies of WM regarding the retention of verbal and non-verbal sequences as well as differently presented sequences (as static or dynamic objects), there are virtually no studies that consider both the factor of modality and the sequence presentation.

Objective. The aim of the study is to conduct a comparative analysis of delayed reproduction of verbal and non-verbal sequences by children aged 9–11 years.

Study Participants.Typically developing children (n = 19, mean age 10.75±0.57).

Methods. Subjects were asked to remember and recall the sequences of letters, digits, and segments that formed a broken curve. In the experiment, we varied length, retention time, and presentation mode (static or dynamic). Accuracy and reaction time were analysed.

Results. Analysis of accuracy showed that numerical sequences were best remembered, and letter sequences were worst remembered, static information was remembered better than dynamic, accuracy decreased with time and with increasing length of a sequence. Also, the analysis revealed dependence of accuracy of broken curve reproduction on the presentation mode and retention time, but these factors showed no effect on the reproduction of verbal sequences. Reaction time significantly decreased with increasing retention time for nonverbal sequences.

Conclusion. Verbal and nonverbal sequences presented statically and dynamically are stored differently in children’s WM. Apparently, verbal stimuli are remembered as a sequence in any presentation mode, while numerical sequences can be stored as multidigit numbers, and nonverbal sequences as a single object when presented statically and as a sequence when presented dynamically. During the retention of sequences in WM, the representations of non-verbal information are more mutable than the representations of verbal information.

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