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Original manuscript due to appear in European Psychologist, December, 2003

Working Memory in Writing:

Empirical Evidence From the Dual-Task Technique

Thierry OLIVE

CNRS & University of Poitiers

The dual-task paradigm recently played a major role in understanding the role of working memory in
writing. By reviewing recent findings in this field of research, this article highlights how the use of the
dual-task technique allowed studying processing and short-term storage functions of working memory
involved in writing. With respect to processing functions of working memory (namely, attentional and
executive functions), studies investigated resources allocation, step-by-step management and parallel
coordination of the writing processes. With respect to short-term storage in working memory, experiments
mainly attempted to test Kellogg's (1996) proposals on the relationship between the writing processes and
the slave systems of working memory. It is concluded that the dual-task technique revealed fruitful in
understanding the relationship between writing and working memory because researchers exploited its
major advantage, namely its flexibility.

Key words: Writing, working memory, dual-task, phonological loop, visuospatial sketchpad, central
executive, processing demands, dynamic of writing

Please send correspondence to Thierry Olive, Lab. Langage & Cognition - MSHS, 99, avenue du Recteur Pineau, 86022
Poitiers, FRANCE, E-mail: [email protected].

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