Serial memory processing: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 20:11, 16 March 2012

Revision as of 20:22, 16 March 2012

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==Paragraphs==

===''Overview''===

- Serial memory processing can be Self-Terminating and/or Exhaustive. Internal representations of the memory set are compared to the target stimulus <ref name=Sternberg />. RT increases linearly with set size, the more items the longer it takes (because there is one more internal comparison to be done)<ref name=Sternberg />.

- Self-Terminating = comparisons are made one at a time, as soon as target is found the comparisons stop abruptly and a response is generated <ref name=Townsend />. Internal representations of the memory set are compared to the target stimulus <ref name=Sternberg />

- Evidence for Self-Terminating = RT increases linearly with set size, the more items the longer it takes (because there is one more internal comparison to be done)<ref name=Sternberg />. For positive trials (where the target stimulus was in the memory set) the RT slope is half of that of negative trials (where the target stimulus was not in the memory set). This is because, theoretically, participants will stop comparisons halfway through the set once identifying the positive target. As well, the linear RT function remains for new or well-known memory sets, since comparisons are believed to be serial <ref name=Sternbergg />

- Exhaustive = comparisons are made one at a time until the entire set as been compared. After completing all comparisons, than a response is generated <ref name=Townsend />

- Evidence for Exhaustive = The RT slope for positive trials and negative trials is the same because, theoretically, whether the target stimulus is present or not, the participants will compare through the entire set before generating their response <ref name=Sternberg />

==Article Briefs==