Speech recognition engages working memory when input mismatches stored phonological representations

Evidence

Consistent with these results, models of speech/language processing have started incorporating active cognitive processes (Rönnberg et al. 2013 ; Heald and Nusbaum 2014 ). For example, according to the Ease of Language Understanding model (Rönnberg et al. 2013 ), any mismatch between the perceptual speech input and the phonological representations stored in long-term memory disrupts automatic lexical retrieval, resulting in the use of explicit, effortful processing mechanisms based on WM. — Dijk, Pim van, Physiology, Psychoacoustics and…, 1127

Categorization

• DEFINE: Explains the Ease of Language Understanding model’s core mechanism: mismatch between perceptual input and long-term phonological representations triggers effortful working-memory processing.