Time-Based Loss in Visual Short-Term Memory Is from Trace Decay, Not Temporal Distinctiveness

Autor/inn/en	Ricker, Timothy J.; Spiegel, Lauren R.; Cowan, Nelson
Titel	Time-Based Loss in Visual Short-Term Memory Is from Trace Decay, Not Temporal Distinctiveness
Quelle	In: Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition, 40 (2014) 6, S.1510-1523 (14 Seiten) PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	0278-7393
DOI	10.1037/xlm0000018
Schlagwörter	Short Term Memory; Visual Perception; Time; College Students; Accuracy; Statistical Analysis; Retention (Psychology); Intervals; Missouri + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Kurzzeitgedächtnis; Visuelle Wahrnehmung; Zeit; Collegestudent; Statistische Analyse; Merkfähigkeit
Abstract	There is no consensus as to why forgetting occurs in short-term memory tasks. In past work, we have shown that forgetting occurs with the passage of time, but there are 2 classes of theories that can explain this effect. In the present work, we investigate the reason for time-based forgetting by contrasting the predictions of temporal distinctiveness and trace decay in the procedure in which we have observed such loss, involving memory for arrays of characters or letters across several seconds. The 1st theory, temporal distinctiveness, predicts that increasing the amount of time between trials will lead to less proactive interference, resulting in less forgetting across a retention interval. In the 2nd theory, trace decay, temporal distinctiveness between trials is irrelevant to the loss over a retention interval. Using visual array change detection tasks in 4 experiments, we find small proactive interference effects on performance under some specific conditions, but no concomitant change in the effect of a retention interval. We conclude that trace decay is the more suitable class of explanations of the time-based forgetting in short-term memory that we have observed, and we suggest the need for further clarity in what the exact basis of that decay may be. (As Provided).
Anmerkungen	American Psychological Association. Journals Department, 750 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20002. Tel: 800-374-2721; Tel: 202-336-5510; Fax: 202-336-5502; e-mail: order@apa.org; Web site: http://www.apa.org
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2020/1/01