Short-Term Memory Overload during Reading

• Main Author: Wisher, Robert A
• Format: Paper
• Language: English
• Published: 01.12.1977
• Subjects: Eye Fixations; Eye Movements; Memory; Reading Ability; Reading Processes; Reading Research; Reading Skills; Retention (Psychology); Short Term Memory

This study examines the stages of information processing during a single eye fixation, by overloading or disrupting short-term memory. Ten navy enlistees identified tones that were emitted at sporadic times, while they read general-interest passages through an eye view monitor. Each trial ended with a ten-item test to ensure that all subjects comprehended the passages at a reasonable level. The data were examined for the length of the eye fixations, the reaction times in tone identification, and the indicated probabilities for regressing (rereading). The results indicate a two-stage process during eye fixation: first, within 100 milliseconds of eye fixation, the reader prepares to integrate information from previous fixations with information from the current fixation; second, after 100 milliseconds, the information from previous fixations has been encoded into some conceptual form, and the information from the current fixation begins a similar reencoding process. (RL)