Serial position effects in visual short-term memory for words and abstract spatial patterns.
Two experiments tested the effects of list position, and retention-interval in recognition for two distinct stimulus categories in young adults. Stimulus categories were spatial abstract patterns and words presented on a computer screen. At short delay intervals recency effects predominates and at longer delay intervals a primacy effect predominates in both experiments, indicating similar basic memory processes producing the serial position functions for the two different categories of visual stimuli, but as length of retention-interval increases, memory for first list items improves for words and remains constant for abstract patterns. Recency functions are similar for both stimulus categories tested.
Korsnes
M S
MS
Department of Psychosomatic and Behavioral Medicine, National Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
Magnussen
S
S
Reinvang
I
I
D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008570:Memory, Short-Term; D011939:Mental Recall; D009949:Orientation; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual; D012153:Retention, Psychology; D012691:Serial Learning; D014706:Verbal Learning