Effects of syntax on running memory span d for connected discourse

Abstract

Running memory span (RMS) was tested during pauses placed at word boundaries in connected discourse. RMS for the seven words previous to test pauses was superior when all seven fell into the same clause, as opposed to when only the last four words were from the immediate clause. The results gave some support to a hypothesis made about syntactic structure in immediate memory, and their relation to previous findings on speech segmentation in listening was discussed. © 1970, Psychonomic Journals, Inc.. All rights reserved.