TY - JOUR
T1 - Individual differences in the gesture effect on working memory
AU - Marstaller, Lars
AU - Burianová, Hana
PY - 2013/6
Y1 - 2013/6
N2 - Co-speech gestures have been shown to interact with working memory (WM). However, no study has investigated whether there are individual differences in the effect of gestures on WM. Combining a novel gesture/no-gesture task and an operation span task, we examined the differences in WM accuracy between individuals who gestured and individuals who did not gesture in relation to their WM capacity. Our results showed individual differences in the gesture effect on WM. Specifically, only individuals with low WM capacity showed a reduced WM accuracy when they did not gesture. Individuals with low WM capacity who did gesture, as well as high-capacity individuals (irrespective of whether they gestured or not), did not show the effect. Our findings show that the interaction between co-speech gestures and WM is affected by an individual's WM load.
AB - Co-speech gestures have been shown to interact with working memory (WM). However, no study has investigated whether there are individual differences in the effect of gestures on WM. Combining a novel gesture/no-gesture task and an operation span task, we examined the differences in WM accuracy between individuals who gestured and individuals who did not gesture in relation to their WM capacity. Our results showed individual differences in the gesture effect on WM. Specifically, only individuals with low WM capacity showed a reduced WM accuracy when they did not gesture. Individuals with low WM capacity who did gesture, as well as high-capacity individuals (irrespective of whether they gestured or not), did not show the effect. Our findings show that the interaction between co-speech gestures and WM is affected by an individual's WM load.
KW - Gesture
KW - Individual differences in memory capacity
KW - Working memory
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84878502438&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3758/s13423-012-0365-0
DO - 10.3758/s13423-012-0365-0
M3 - Article
C2 - 23288659
AN - SCOPUS:84878502438
VL - 20
SP - 496
EP - 500
JO - Psychonomic Bulletin and Review
JF - Psychonomic Bulletin and Review
SN - 1069-9384
IS - 3
ER -