Abstract
An experiment is reported concerning the role of working memory components in syllogistic reasoning. In this study, the syllogistic premises were presented sequentially and subjects attempted the syllogisms with and without three secondary tasks (articulatory suppression; spatial suppression and verbal random generation). Taking account of possible trade-offs among the dual tasks, it appeared that syllogisms with sequentially presented premises markedly loaded the central executive and the phonological loop components of working memory and also showed an involvement of the visuo-spatial scratchpad. It appears that the “slave” systems of working memory were more heavily loaded when sequential presentation of premises was used than was found previously with simultaneous premise presentation (Gilhooly, Logie, Wetherick & Wynn, 1993).
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Gilhooly, K.J., Logie, R.H. & Wynn, V.E. Syllogistic reasoning tasks and working memory: Evidence from sequential presentation of premises. Curr Psychol 21, 111–120 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-002-1007-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-002-1007-x