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Cited by 236Cognitive Abilities and TestingLogic, Reasoning, and KnowledgeNeurobiology of Language and Bilingualism

Working memory and strategies in syllogistic-reasoning tasks

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Gilhooly, K. J., Logie, R. H., Wetherick, N. E., Wynn, V.·1993·Memory & Cognition
DOI 10.3758/bf03211170
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Abstract

It has often been asserted that working-memory limitations are a major factor contributing to problem difficulty; for example, Johnson-Laird's (1983) mental-models theory appeals to working-memory limitations to explain the difficulty of syllogistic reasoning. However, few studies have directly explored working memory in problem solving in general or syllogistic reasoning in particular. This paper reports two studies. In the first, working-memory load was varied by presenting syllogistic tasks either verbally or visually (so that the premises were continuously available for inspection). A significant effect of memory load was obtained. In the second study, premises were presented visually for a subject-determined time. Dual-task methods were used to assess the role of working-memory components, as identified in Baddeley's (1986) model. Syllogistic performance was disrupted by concurrent random-number generation but not by concurrent articulatory suppression or by concurrent tapping in a preset pattern. Furthermore, the concurrent syllogism task interfered with random generation and to a lesser extent with articulatory suppression, but not with tapping. We conclude that while the central-executive component of working memory played a major role in the syllogistic-task performance reported here, the articulatory loop had a lesser role, and the visuospatial scratch pad was not involved.

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  • Prior research suggests that cue type influences inner speech use and that verbal short-term memory is commonly used to retain sequential information.

    “Prior research suggests that cue type influences inner speech use60 and that verbal short-term memory is commonly used to retain sequential information61.”

    From Inner speech in motor cortex and implications for speech neuroprostheses (2025) · cites this paper as [61]

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Research works printed but not linked: 11

  1. BADDELEY, A. (1986). Working memory. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  2. BRAINE, M. D. S., 8< RUMAIN, B. (1983). Logical reasoning. In J. Flavell & E. Markman (Eds.), Handbook of child psychology: Vol. 3. Cognitive development (4th ed., pp. 263-340). New York: Wiley.
  3. ERICKSON, J. R. (1974). A set analysis theory of behavior in a formal syllogistic reasoning task. In R. L. Solso (Ed.), Theories in cogni- tive psychology: TheLoyola Symposium (pp. 305-330).
  4. ERICKSON, J. R. (1978). Research on syllogistic reasoning. In R. Rev- lin & R. E. Mayer (Eds.), Human reasoning (pp. 39-50). Washing- ton, DC: Winston.
  5. GILHOOLY, K. J. (1991). Thinking. In R. Dulbecco (Ed.), Encyclope- dia of human biology (pp. 467-472). San Diego: Academic Press.
  6. REISBERG, D., & LOGIE, R. H. (in press). The ins and outs of visual working memory: Overcoming the limits on learning from imagery.
  7. In M. Intons-Peterson, B. Roskos-Ewoldsen, & R. Anderson (Eds.), Imagery, creativity, and discovery: A cognitive approach. Amster- dam: Elsevier.
  8. REvLIS, R. (1975). Two models of syllogistic reasoning. Journal of Ver- bal Learning & Verbal Behavior, 14, 180-195.
  9. SAARILUOMA, P. (1991). Visuo-spatial interference and apperception in chess. In R. H. Logie & M. Denis (Eds.), Mental images in human cognition (pp. 83-94). Amsterdam: North-Holland.
  10. STENNING, K., & OBERLANDER, J. (in press). Spatial inclusion as an analogy for set membership: A case study of analogy at work. In K. Holyoak & J. Bamden (Eds.), Analogical connections. Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.
  11. WETHERICK, N. E., & GILHOOLY, K. J. (1990). Syllogistic reasoning: Effects of premise order. In K. J. Gilhooly, M. T. G. Keane, R. H. Logie, & G. Erdos (Eds.), Lines of thinking (Vol. I, pp. 99-108). Chichester: Wiley.

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Authors
Gilhooly, K. J., Logie, R. H., Wetherick, N. E., & Wynn, V.
Affiliations
University of Aberdeen (GB)
Corresponding author
Gilhooly, K. J.
ORCID
Venue
Memory & Cognition
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
1993-01
Volume
21
Issue
1
Pages
115-124
ISSN
  • 0090-502X (ISSN-L)
  • 1532-5946
DOI
10.3758/bf03211170
OpenAlex
W2083274837
Cited by
236
References
44
Citations by year
2025: 2 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 26 · 2018: 4 · 2016: 1 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 9 · 2013: 6 · 2012: 3
FWCI
26.25
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
Locations
  • Memory & Cognition (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Cognitive Abilities and Testing
  • Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Artificial Intelligence › Logic, Reasoning, and Knowledge
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neurobiology of Language and Bilingualism
Keywords
working memory, syllogistic reasoning, mental models theory, dual-task interference, central executive, phonological loop, memory load, problem solving, random number generation, articulatory suppression
MeSH terms
Adult, Attention, Female, Humans, Logic, Male, Problem Solving, Reaction Time, Mental Recall, Retention, Psychology, Speech Perception, Visual Perception

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