This experiment takes an on-line look at syntactical complexity, external loads, and working memory, and how the three influence one another. Based on off-line data looking at the interactions between these three factors, we have discovered that syntactic complexity and span have main effects, while the effect of load is most interestingly seen in a three way interaction representing the hardest possible combination of factors. Through this new design, we were able to see whether the off-line results of sentence processing are replicated with an on-line measure. Our new off-line findings replicate past results, which show that working memory impacts off-line sentence processing. However, we fail to see working memory play a major role in on-line sentence processing. This paper will give a background on the available literature, a brief summary of the off-line findings from the prior experiment, and our new off-line and on-line results for this experiment.
Seidel, Christy, "The interactions between sentence complexity, working memory, and additional working memory load: an on-line measure" (2010). LSU Master's Theses. 2626.