Serial-order short-term memory predicts vocabulary development: Evidence from a longitudinal study.

Serial order STM, as opposed to item STM, has been shown to be very consistently associated with lexical learning abilities in cross-sectional study designs.This study investigated longitudinal predictions between serial order STM and vocabulary development.Tasks maximizing the temporary retention of either serial order or item information were administered to kindergarten children aged four and one year later.At Age 4, Age 5, and from Age 4 to Age 5, serial order STM capacities, but not item STM capacities, were specifically associated with vocabulary development.Moreover, the increase of serial order STM capacity from Age 4 to Age 5 predicted the increase of vocabulary knowledge over the same time period.These results support a theoretical position that assumes an important role for serial order STM capacities in vocabulary acquisition.