The Roles of Individual Differences and Working Memory in Episodic Memory

Past studies on strength of handedness, an individual difference variable, and working memory (WM) have shown their independent associations with episodic memory. The current study aimed to check for the associations between these three factors, in addition to assessing the role of strength of handedness in simple and complex WM tasks (measured by digit span and letter number sequencing tasks, respectively) and episodic memory (measured by verbal paired associates). Results revealed robust handedness differences in episodic memory echoing findings from a host of past studies, however, failed to show a significant association with WM. Further, a path model was attempted to check if handedness mediated via WM to influence episodic memory retrieval. Results revealed that the two were dissociated from one another and yet significantly affected episodic memory. The current findings are explained in the light of past evidence that support the roles of WM and handedness in encoding and retrieving episodic memories, respectively.

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Philosophy

Level thesis:degree_level

doctoral

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Psychology

Grantor dc:publisher

University of Toledo

Year dc:date

2013

Author dc:creator

• Sahu, Aparna A.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Christman, Stephen

• Cognitive Psychology
• Experimental Psychology
• Inconsistent handedness
• episodic memory
• working memory
• gender differences

Statement dc:rights

• unrestricted
• This thesis or dissertation is protected by copyright: all rights reserved. It may not be copied or redistributed beyond the terms of applicable copyright laws.

Language dc:language

English

Repository record dc:identifier

http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=toledo1365166387

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:etd.ohiolink.edu:toledo1365166387