Short-term Memory and Working Memory in Mental Retardation

This chapter provides an overview of the range of working memory impairments associated with learning disability, and the possible consequences of such deficits. In doing so, it raises a number of questions, notably: Are there aspects of short-term or working memory that are particularly vulnerable to mental retardation? Are there any syndrome-specific patterns of working memory impairments? And, how might these relate to educational outcomes and other aspects of cognitive and linguistic development? To properly interpret findings from studies involving individuals with mental retardation, the chapter begins by raising a number of general methodological points about the assessment of working memory, and by emphasizing the theoretical distinction between working memory and short-term memory.