phonological loop

in the model of working memory proposed in 1974 by British cognitive psychologists Alan D. Baddeley (1934– ) and Graham J. Hitch (1946– ), a component that holds and manipulates auditory information over short intervals of time. For example, if one tried to remember a telephone number by repeating it over and over in the few moments before dialing, this effort would take place in the phonological loop. It comprises a phonological store or phonological buffer (or acoustic or articulatory store) within which memory traces fade after 2 seconds unless an articulatory control process (or articulatory rehearsal system) refreshes them by subvocal rehearsal. The phonological store thus acts as an “inner ear” by remembering speech sounds in their temporal order, whereas the articulatory control process acts as an “inner voice” by repeating the series of words on a loop to prevent them from decay. Additionally, it has been suggested that the phonological loop is important to reading comprehension and may in fact function primarily as a language learning device, rather than a mechanism for the memorization of familiar words. Other components of the Baddeley and Hitch working memory model include the visuospatial sketchpad, the central executive, and the more recently introduced episodic buffer. Also called articulatory loop.

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Psychology term of the day

January 3rd 2025

politeness

n. the process by which a speaker attempts to avoid harm to a listener’s public image or private self-concept through the use of nonthreatening or face-saving forms of speech. Politeness involves steering clear of content or forms of language that might embarrass listeners, make them feel uncomfortable, or lessen their self-respect. It also involves actively using language that maintains or enhances the listener’s dignity, prestige, and autonomy. For example, a speaker might preface the request for a favor by saying, “I’m sorry to bother you, and feel free to say no, but I wonder if you would. . . .” Politeness is one aspect of facework.