Cited by 4,153Neurobiology of Language and BilingualismCognitive Abilities and TestingReading and Literacy Development

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A capacity theory of comprehension: individual differences in working memory

Just, Marcel A., Carpenter, Patricia A.·1992·Psychological Review

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Abstract

A theory of the way working memory capacity constrains comprehension is proposed. The theory proposes that both processing and storage are mediated by activation and that the total amount of activation available in working memory varies among individuals. Individual differences in working memory capacity for language can account for qualitative and quantitative differences among college-age adults in several aspects of language comprehension. One aspect is syntactic modularity: The larger capacity of some individuals permits interaction among syntactic and pragmatic information, so that their syntactic processes are not informationally encapsulated. Another aspect is syntactic ambiguity: The larger capacity of some individuals permits them to maintain multiple interpretations. The theory is instantiated as a production system model in which the amount of activation available to the model affects how it adapts to the transient computational and storage demands that occur in comprehension.

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Authors: Just, M. A., & Carpenter, P. A.
Affiliations: Carnegie Mellon University (US)
ORCID: Just, Marcel A.
Venue: Psychological Review
Publisher: American Psychological Association (APA)
Published: 1992
Volume: 99
Issue: 1
Pages: 122-149
ISSN: 0033-295X (ISSN-L)
1939-1471
DOI: 10.1037/0033-295x.99.1.122
OpenAlex: W2072875864
Cited by: 4,153
References: 99
Citations by year: 2026: 105 · 2025: 90 · 2024: 76 · 2023: 98 · 2022: 104 · 2021: 135 · 2020: 170 · 2019: 144 · 2018: 151 · 2017: 140 · 2016: 155 · 2015: 212 · 2014: 181 · 2013: 156 · 2012: 168
FWCI: 25.74
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Locations: Psychological Review (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
KiltHub Repository (submittedVersion)
Funders: National Institute of Mental Health (MH 00661, MH-29617, R01MH029617, MH 00662)
Topics: Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neurobiology of Language and Bilingualism
Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Cognitive Abilities and Testing
Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Reading and Literacy Development
Keywords: working memory capacity, language comprehension, individual differences, activation theory, syntactic ambiguity, pragmatic interpretation, production system modeling, information encapsulation, multiple interpretations
MeSH terms: Concept Formation, Humans, Individuality, Problem Solving, Mental Recall, Retention, Psychology, Semantics, Thinking, Verbal Learning

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A capacity theory of comprehension: individual differences in working memory

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