Published: Dec. 14, 2017

Simultaneous interpreting (SI) is difficult to reduce to an efficient and ecologically valid experimental paradigm allowing the measurement of working memory (WM) and attention — key components of all cognitive models of SI. These models could be validated and further refined in light of electrophysiological evidence. Here we propose a novel method for estimating WM load and report the results of our electroencephalographic study that lend support to the prediction of the Efforts Model of SI (Gile, 1988). In particular, this model predicts that increased WM load impairs the processing of auditory stimuli. Consistent with the model, the P1 and …

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