The performance on a battery of cognitive tests of an individual with extraordinary ability at mental arithmetic was studied. Implications of the rather ordinary test performance of Shakuntala Devi in contrast with her calculating speed are discussed with reference to memory and information processing. (SLD)

The influences of memory load and encoding on sex differences in performance of comparison and decision processes--matching digits and letters--were studied in 3 experiments with 189 male and 188 female college students. A sex difference in comparison processes may be influenced by the code used when making comparisons. (SLD)

The article examines assessment of phonological coding skills (considered important in in acquiring early word-reading skills) in young children. Although tests of memory span for digits, words, or letters are most commonly used, a combination of tasks including naming-rate and articulation-rate tasks are suggested. (Author/DB)

This article presents theoretical reflections and empirical data on metacognitive aspects of memory and reading problems in children with reading comprehension disabilities. A distinction is made between metacognitive awareness and metacognitive control processes. Experimental results suggest that poor comprehenders present less adequate…

A theoretical model of person memory and judgment--the processes underlying the formation of person impressions--is presented. It incorporates both specific behaviors and abstract personality dispositions or behavioral tendencies. The model accounts for factors affecting recall of social information and interpersonal judgments and is applicable to…

Performance by 77 hearing-impaired elementary students on test of visual processing was compared with scores on a test of reading comprehension. Performance intelligence quotient correlated with both visual processing and reading scores. Some variance in reading scores was explained by intelligence quotient and performance on memory tests for…

When 40 organically mentally retarded, 33 familial retarded, and 35 nonretarded school-age children were compared on 2 tasks of intentional memory, with mental age being covaried, the nonretarded children performed best, followed by the familial group. The 3 groups did not differ on a task of incidental learning. (Author/JDD)

Summarizes relevant aspects of the theory of field dependence. Topics discussed include stages of information processing, developmental issues and implications, and future directions for research. (RJC)

Examined comprehension of and memory for information on prescription labels as function of age, memory load, and study time across three experiments with young and old adults. Older adults consistently manifested poorer recall of prescription information than did younger adults. Both young and old adults had substantial difficulty comprehending…

Some techniques parents use in teaching the content of picture books were studied using 72 three-year-olds, whose parents read them two picture books. Testing for recall and rereading the book were found to be effective for teaching the content. (SLD)

Individual differences in retention, with an emphasis on their relationship with learning speed and other cognitive factors, were studied in 685 military recruits. In all of the forgetting conditions, the fastest learners remembered more and relearned faster. Results support the existence of individual differences in retention. (SLD)

Tests hypotheses that reading styles of good spellers and dysgraphic spellers differs. Concludes that an underlying source of difficulty for dysgraphic spellers, one that may be related to the reading style they exhibit, is a more limited working memory capacity. (MS)

Discusses field dependence-independence from an information processing perspective. Topics discussed include field dependence theory, stages of information processing, developmental issues and implications, and future directions. The information reviewed indicates that field-independent individuals are more efficient than field-dependent…

Compares the development of working memory in normally achieving children and learning disabled children. Results show a growth of working memory as a function of age. Deficits in working memory for subtypes of learning disabled children are discussed. (RJC)

Investigated the relation between age and rate of forgetting in 72 three-, four-, and six-year-olds in a task that eliminated differences in level of initial learning. Rate of forgetting was nearly identical in every age group. (RJC)