In complex tasks such as interpreting, the importance of a well-functioning working memory can hardly be overestimated. However, empirical studies have failed to produce consistent results with regard to an interpreter advantage in working memory. Recent studies tend to focus on the executive component of working memory. To our knowledge, no such study has compared the possible cognitive advantage of aspiring interpreters relative to other multilinguals before training takes place, in spite of the fact that excellent cognitive abilities are considered important in many interpreter selection procedures. In this study, we compared the working memory capacity and executive functions of a group of 20 student interpreters with two other groups of advanced language users who were all at the start of their Master's training. Data were collected on three executive control functions: inhibition, shifting and updating. A forward and a backward digit span task for measuring the participants' working memory capacity was also included in this study. Results revealed only negligible differences between the three groups at onset of training. The presumed cognitive advantage of aspiring interpreters with regard to executive control was not found.

中文翻译：

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研究有抱负的口译员的假定认知优势

在诸如翻译之类的复杂任务中，几乎不能高估功能良好的工作记忆的重要性。但是，关于工作记忆中口译员优势的实证研究未能得出一致的结果。最近的研究倾向于集中于工作记忆的执行部分。据我们所知，尽管在许多口译员选择程序中认为优秀的认知能力很重要，但尚无此类研究比较有抱负的口译员相对于其他多语种可能的认知优势。在本研究中，我们将一组20名学生口译员的工作记忆能力和执行功能与其他两组高级语言用户进行了比较，而这些都是在他们的硕士培训开始之初。收集了关于三个执行控制功能的数据：抑制，转移和更新。这项研究还包括用于测量参与者的工作记忆能力的向前和向后数字跨度任务。结果显示，训练开始时三组之间的差异可忽略不计。未发现有抱负的口译员在执行控制方面的认知优势。