The associative aspect of temporal information: Evidence from temporal priming

Matt Serra, Purdue University

Abstract

Two views of the nature of the encoded representation of serially presented information are pervasive in the memory literature. Different versions of these theoretical views, serial-position and associative, are discussed. The first of four experiments uses both reconstruction and recognition tasks to demonstrate temporal priming: Response facilitation to a target item by virtue of its temporal contiguity to the prime item at the time of study. The results of Experiment 1 can be handled by certain versions of both the associative and serial-position accounts. Experiments 2-4 make use of the same methodology to separate which of the two approaches most parsimoniously accounts for the priming effect seen in Experiment 1. Experiment 2 shows the same temporal priming seen in Experiment 1 but in the backward as well as the forward direction. Experiment 3 shows priming to decline as the amount of inter-item distraction between study items increases. Experiment 4 showed priming to exist within-list but not across-list. The results are discussed in terms of the two theoretical approaches outlined.

Degree

Ph.D.

Advisors

Nairne, Purdue University.

Subject Area

Psychology|Experiments|Psychology

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