Individual differences in working memory and processing speed predict anticipatory spoken language processing in the visual world

Several mechanisms of predictive language processing have been proposed. The possible influence of mediating factors such as working memory and processing speed, however, has largely been ignored. We sought to find evidence for such an influence using an individual differences approach. 105 participants from 32-77 years of age received spoken instructions (e.g. "Kijk naar deCOM afgebeelde pianoCOM"- look at the displayed piano) while viewing 4 objects. Articles (Dutch "het" or "de") were gender-marked such that the article agreed in gender only with the target. Participants could thus use article gender information to predict the target. Multiple regression analyses showed that enhanced working memory abilities and faster processing speed predicted anticipatory eye movements. Models of predictive language processing therefore must take mediating factors into account. More generally, our results are consistent with the notion that working memory grounds language in space and time, linking linguistic and visual-spatial representations.