articulatory loop: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowAcademic/Technical
Quick answer
What does “articulatory loop” mean?
A component of working memory responsible for temporarily storing and rehearsing verbal information.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A component of working memory responsible for temporarily storing and rehearsing verbal information.
A cognitive mechanism that allows for the maintenance of speech-based information through subvocal repetition, forming part of Baddeley and Hitch's model of working memory.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. The term is used identically in both varieties within academic literature.
Connotations
Purely technical/academic in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally low frequency in both UK and US academic contexts, confined to psychology and linguistics.
Grammar
How to Use “articulatory loop” in a Sentence
The articulatory loop is involved in X.Damage to the articulatory loop impairs Y.The capacity of the articulatory loop is limited.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “articulatory loop” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The patient could not articulate the words held in the loop.
- The task requires you to subvocally rehearse using the articulatory mechanism.
American English
- The study showed how we articulate information within the loop.
- Children articulate phonemes via this cognitive loop.
adverb
British English
- The information was processed articulatorily via the loop.
- He rehearsed the list articulatorily.
American English
- The data was retained articulatorily.
- She subvocalized articulatorily to remember the number.
adjective
British English
- The articulatory-loop capacity was measured.
- She has a strong articulatory-loop function.
American English
- Articulatory-loop processes are crucial for reading.
- We tested the articulatory-loop hypothesis.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in psychology, neuroscience, and linguistics papers to discuss models of memory and language processing.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
Core term in cognitive psychology for describing the rehearsal of verbal information.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “articulatory loop”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “articulatory loop”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “articulatory loop”
- Using it as a general term for 'memory' (it's a specific component).
- Pronouncing 'articulatory' with a hard 'c' (/k/) instead of /s/.
- Confusing it with the 'phonological store' (the loop includes both the store and the rehearsal process).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a theoretical construct used to explain cognitive functions. It is not a distinct anatomical structure.
They are often used synonymously. Strictly, the articulatory loop refers to the *process* of subvocal rehearsal, while phonological short-term memory is the *store* it refreshes. The loop comprises both the store and the rehearsal process.
Yes, when you repeat a phone number to yourself silently until you dial it, you are using your articulatory loop to prevent the number from fading from memory.
The concept was central to the working memory model proposed by Alan Baddeley and Graham Hitch in 1974.
A component of working memory responsible for temporarily storing and rehearsing verbal information.
Articulatory loop is usually academic/technical in register.
Articulatory loop: in British English it is pronounced /ɑːˌtɪk.jʊˈleɪ.tər.i luːp/, and in American English it is pronounced /ɑrˌtɪk.jəˈlɔː.tɔːr.i luːp/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None. It is a technical term.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a LOOP of tape (like a cassette) in your mouth (ARTICULATORY) that keeps replaying words you need to remember.
Conceptual Metaphor
MEMORY IS A WORKSPACE (with specialized tools like the loop).
Practice
Quiz
The articulatory loop is primarily associated with which model?