Skip to main content
Kent Academic Repository

Using perspective to resolve reference: the impact of cognitive load and motivation

Cane, James E., Ferguson, Heather J., Apperly, Ian (2017) Using perspective to resolve reference: the impact of cognitive load and motivation. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition, 43 (4). pp. 591-610. ISSN 0278-7393. E-ISSN 1939-1285. (doi:10.1037/xlm0000345) (KAR id:57114)

Abstract

Research has demonstrated a link between perspective-taking and working memory. Here we used eye-tracking to examine the time course with which working memory load (WML) influences perspective-taking ability in a referential communication task, and how motivation to take another’s perspective modulates these effects.  In Experiment 1, where there was no reward or time-pressure, listeners only showed evidence of incorporating perspective knowledge during integration of the target object, but did not anticipate reference to this Common Ground object during the pre-target noun period. WML did not affect this perspective use. In Experiment 2 - where a reward for speed and accuracy was applied - listeners used perspective cues to disambiguate the target object from the competitor object from the earliest moments of processing (i.e. during the pre-target noun period)- but only under low load. Under high load, responses were comparable with the control condition, where both objects were in common ground. Furthermore, attempts to initiate perspective-relevant responses under high load led to impaired recall on the concurrent WML task, indicating that perspective-relevant responses were drawing on limited cognitive resources. These results show that when there is ambiguity, perspective cues guide rapid referential interpretation when there is sufficient motivation and sufficient cognitive resources.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1037/xlm0000345
Uncontrolled keywords: perspective-taking; working memory; eye-movements; growth curve analysis; motivation
Subjects: B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Human and Social Sciences > School of Psychology
Funders: Leverhulme Trust (https://ror.org/012mzw131)
Depositing User: Heather Ferguson
Date Deposited: 06 Sep 2016 09:08 UTC
Last Modified: 04 Mar 2024 19:51 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/57114 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

Cane, James E..

Creator's ORCID:
CReDIT Contributor Roles:

Ferguson, Heather J..

Creator's ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1575-4820
CReDIT Contributor Roles:
  • Depositors only (login required):

Total unique views for this document in KAR since July 2020. For more details click on the image.