Evidence for superior encoding of detailed visual memories in deaf signers

Craig, Michael, Dewar, Michaela, Turner, Graham, Collier, Trudi and Kapur, Narinder (2022) Evidence for superior encoding of detailed visual memories in deaf signers. Scientific Reports, 12. p. 9097. ISSN 2045-2322

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Official URL: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-13000-y

Abstract

Recent evidence shows that deaf signers outperform hearing non-signers in some tests of visual attention and discrimination. Furthermore, they can retain visual information better over short periods, i.e., seconds. However, it is unknown if deaf signers’ retention of detailed visual information is superior following more extended periods. We report a study investigating this possibility. Our data revealed that deaf individuals outperformed hearing people in a visual long-term memory test that probed the fine detail of new memories. Deaf individuals also performed better in a scene-discrimination test, which correlated positively with performance on the long-term memory test. Our findings provide evidence that deaf signers can demonstrate superior visual long-term memory, possibly because of enhanced visual attention during encoding. The relative contributions of factors including sign language fluency, protracted practice, and neural plasticity are still to be established. Our findings add to evidence showing that deaf signers are at an advantage in some respects, including the retention of detailed visual memories over the longer term.

Item Type: Article
Additional Information: Funding information: We are thankful to those who gave their time to participate in our research and to colleagues (Marion Fletcher, Andy Carmichael, and Tessa Slaughter) in the Department of Language & Intercultural Studies, Heriot-Watt University, for their support. This project was supported by an Internal Research Grant from the School of Social Sciences at Heriot-Watt University, UK. In addition, Dr Michael Craig was supported by a Fellowship award from Alzheimer’s Society, UK (grant number 316).
Uncontrolled Keywords: Deaf, sign language, long-term memory, visual memory
Subjects: C800 Psychology
Department: Faculties > Health and Life Sciences > Psychology
Depositing User: Rachel Branson
Date Deposited: 26 May 2022 15:26
Last Modified: 20 Jun 2022 16:30
URI: http://nrl.northumbria.ac.uk/id/eprint/49199

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