Abstract

CAPOVILLA, Fernando César  and  NUNES, Leila Regina D´Oliveira de Paula. Information processing in working memory de cerebral-palsied: primacy and recency effects and the nature de consolidation. Rev. bras. educ. espec. [online]. 2001, vol.07, n.01, pp.01-24. ISSN 1413-6538.

Working memory is responsible for retaining information during the processing involved in problem-solving. Two experiments assessed the degree of working memory development and the nature of the rehearsal underlying consolidation. An illiterate, non-vocal 15y3m old cerebral-palsied boy, who had used a computerized alternative communication system for two years, participated. Experiment 1 used a variation of the free-recalI procedure in which after listening to each of several word-series, the subject selected from the system monitor, via touch-screen, the pictures corresponding to the names spoken by the examiner. A typical serial-position curve resulted, with primacy and recency effects. Experiment 2 analyzed the nature of the rehearsal, whether overt or covert, and whether visual or subvocal. The procedure was replicated but the monitor was shaded in half of the trials. Shading suppressed primacy and highlighted recency whereas, in the absence of shading, primacy was as strong as recency. The inability to perform covered rehearsal (both visuo-statial and subvocal) is in accordance with the literature, and poses problems for the educator.

Keywords : Memory; Cerebral Palsy; Information Processing; Augmentative and Alternative Communication; Language Deficit.

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