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Serial memory processing uses internal representations of the memory set in order to compare them to a target stimulus or item that is being presented. These internal representations are then compared to the target stimulus, one at a time. It's been consistently found that reaction time increases linearly with the set size, where the more items in the memory set, the longer it will take to compare. <ref name=Sternberg>Sternberg, S. (1966). High-speed scanning in human memory. ''Science, 153''(1).</ref>
Serial memory processing 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 /> Evidence for this method is found in reaction time studies. If the reaction time slope for a positive trial (where the target was present in the memory set) is about half of the slope for a negative trial (where the target was not present in the memory set) this demonstrates self-terminating processing. This is because, on average, participants (on positive trials) will stop comparisons about halfway through when they find the target match but participants (on negative trials) will need to compare until the end when no target match is found. <ref name=Sternbergg>Sternberg, S. (1969). Memory-scanning: Mental processes revealed by reaction-time experiments. ''American Scientist, 57''(4).</ref> On the other hand, exhaustive implies that comparisons continue until the entire set is compared and then a response is generated. <ref name=Townsend /> Evidence for this method is also found in reaction time studies. In this case, the reaction time slope is equal for both positive and negative trials, as comparisons are made to the end in both cases. <ref name=Sternberg /> Participants may process some serial memory sets using the self-terminating method and in other cases use the exhaustive method, there is no clear distinction between which method is better to use. <ref name=Townsend />
==Characteristics of processing==
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;Stimuli grouping effects
Items in a serial memory can be presented in ways that promote grouping amongst the items. Individuals can group
Spatial grouping refers to the items in the original memory set being grouped by their spatial characteristics. An example of this would be presenting the first three items in the top right corner, and the remaining three items in the bottom left corner. These items are now grouped into two groups of three based on their spatial attributes. It has been found that the longer the spatial pathways from item to item, the slower the recall time and the lower the accuracy of recall. Therefore, item’s that have a small spatial pathway between them, are remembered better and faster. In this case, the fourth item would be remembered less easily, because the spatial pathway from the top right corner (where the third item was) to the bottom left corner (where the fourth item will be) is longer than most. <ref name=Parmentier />
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;Other errors
There are other errors that exist in serial memory tasks based on the item's characteristics. Serial position errors have been discussed earlier, in relation to the primacy and recency effect. These errors have been found to be independent from other errors, such as acoustic errors. Acoustic errors result from items that are phonologically similar. An example of this would be recalling “B” as opposed to the actual item “P”. These items are phonologically similar and can cause acoustic errors. These are related to the suffix effect as well, which found that the rececny effect was only removed when phonologically similar stimuli were used. <ref name=Bjork>Bjork, E. L., & Healy, A. F. (1974). Short-term order and item retention. ''Journal of Verbal Learning and Verbal Behavior, 13''(1).</ref> As well, other variables of verbal stimuli have been found to cause acoustic errors. Examples of these variables are word length, word frequency and lexicality. These interact to cause acoustic errors in serial memory tasks by adding in acoustic confusability amongst the items. <ref name=Burgess>Burgess, N., & Hitch, G. H. (1999). Memory for serial order: A network model of the phonological loop and its timing. ''Psychological Review, 106''(3).</ref>
;Processing in atypical individuals
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