Dissociative style and individual differences in verbal working memory span

Conscious Cogn. 2004 Dec;13(4):821-8. doi: 10.1016/j.concog.2004.08.002.

Abstract

Dissociative style is mostly studied as a risk factor for dissociative pathology, but it may also reflect a fundamental characteristic of healthy information processing. Due to the close link between attention and working memory and the previous finding of enhanced attentional abilities with a high dissociative style, a positive relationship was also expected between dissociative style and verbal working memory span. In a sample of 119 psychology students, it was found that the verbal span of the high-dissociative group was about half a word larger than of the medium and low-dissociative groups. It is suggested that dissociative style may be one of only very few individual differences that is directly relevant to consciousness research.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Attention
  • Dissociative Disorders / psychology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Language*
  • Male
  • Memory*
  • Mental Processes*
  • Risk Factors