* Serial memory processing canuses be Self-Terminating and/or Exhaustive. Internalinternal representations of the memory set in order to compare them to a target stimulus. These internal representations are then compared to the target stimulus, one at a time. RTReaction Time increases linearly with the set size, where the more items in the longermemory itset, takesthe (becauselonger thereit iswill one more internal comparisontake to becompare. 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 />
*Serial Evidencememory forprocessing can be either Self-Terminating or Exhaustive. Self-Terminating implies that comparisons stop abruptly as soon as the target is found, and then the response is generated. <ref name=Townsend /> ForEvidence for this method is found in reaction time studies. If the reaction time slope for a positive trialstrial (where the target stimulus was present in the memory set) the RT slope is about half of thatthe ofslope for a negative trialstrial (where the target stimulus was not present in the memory set) this demonstrates self-terminating processing. This is because, theoreticallyon average, participants (on positive trials) will stop comparisons about halfway through when they find the settarget oncematch identifyingbut participants (on negative trials) will need to compare until the positiveend when no target match is found. As<ref wellname=Sternbergg /> On the other hand, Exhaustive implies that comparisons continue until the linearentire RTset functionis remainscompared and then a response is generated. <ref name=Townsend /> Evidence for newthis ormethod well-knownis memoryalso found in reaction time studies. In this setscase, sincethe reaction time slope is equal for both positive and negative trials, as comparisons are believedmade to bethe end in both serialcases. <ref name=SternberggSternberg />
* 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 />
