Toward a network model of the articulatory loop

Abstract

This chapter begins by describing the concept of the articulatory loop and summarizing some of the behavioral evidence supporting it. It presents a feed-forward network model based on Baddeley’s concept of an “articulatory loop”. The articulatory loop is thought to be particularly concerned with retaining information about serial order. The articulatory loop is a relatively simple theoretical concept even when it is modified to account for the role of presentation modality and differences between the phonemic similarity and word length effects. The chapter argues that the Baddeley model of the articulatory loop captures some important regularities about short-term recall but fails to give a realistic account of the problem of serial order. It provides a relatively simple candidate mechanism for the articulatory loop at a much more detailed level than the conceptual account. Although the articulatory loop is clearly a useful concept, it has some important limitations as an explanatory account.