Intrusion errors in working memory tasks - Are they related to reading comprehension ability?

The purpose of the present research was to investigate whether inefficient suppression mechanisms cause overload and interference in working memory an d, consequently, influence reading comprehension. Two groups of children, m atched for intelligence but differing in inferential comprehension ability, were compared on measures of short-term (passive storage) and working memo ry (maintenance and processing) and memory for relevant and irrelevant info rmation after reading a passage. Poor comprehenders produced more intrusion errors in a working memory task and recalled more irrelevant information f rom the passage. The presence of irrelevant information in recall suggests that poor comprehenders are less efficient in reducing the activation (supp ression) of information, which is no longer relevant. A year-long longitudi nal study was conducted to investigate the influence of suppression efficie ncy in reading comprehension. Intrusion errors were shown to be a good pred ictor of comprehension performance 1 year later. Suppression mechanisms see m to play an important role in working memory by reducing interference and improving the processing and maintenance of relevant information in order t o build a coherent representation during reading comprehension. (C) 2001 El sevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.