Time-dependent forgetting and retrieval practice effects in detailed visual long-term memory. 2019

Tom Mercer, and Gemma A Jones
Faculty of Education, Health and Wellbeing, University of Wolverhampton, Wolverhampton, UK.

Memories-especially those containing fine details-are usually lost over time, but this study assessed whether detailed visual memories can survive a 1-week delay if retrieval practice is provided. In three experiments, participants viewed 300 objects and then completed recognition tests assessing memory for precise object exemplars and their state. The recognition tests occurred immediately after encoding and 1 week later, and required participants to distinguish between a previously seen target object and an incorrect foil. While there was forgetting when participants were tested on different sets of stimuli across the delay, retrieval practice led to an advantage in recognition performance. This effect was not simply due to mere exposure, as retrieval practice boosted recognition beyond a restudy condition, which had a second encoding opportunity but no retrieval practice. Yet more detailed analyses revealed that the effect of retrieval practice was highly dependent upon the type of information being tested (exemplar or state) and the specific foil that was presented. In addition, state information was harder to retain over the delay than exemplar information, suggesting that memory for different properties is forgotten at different rates.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D011939 Mental Recall The process whereby a representation of past experience is elicited. Recall, Mental
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328 Adult A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available. Adults
D013997 Time Factors Elements of limited time intervals, contributing to particular results or situations. Time Series,Factor, Time,Time Factor
D014796 Visual Perception The selecting and organizing of visual stimuli based on the individual's past experience. Visual Processing,Perception, Visual,Processing, Visual
D055815 Young Adult A person between 19 and 24 years of age. Adult, Young,Adults, Young,Young Adults
D057567 Memory, Long-Term Remembrance of information from 3 or more years previously. Memory, Longterm,Memory, Remote,Remote Memory,Long-Term Memories,Long-Term Memory,Longterm Memories,Longterm Memory,Memories, Long-Term,Memories, Longterm,Memories, Remote,Memory, Long Term,Remote Memories
D021641 Recognition, Psychology The knowledge or perception that someone or something present has been previously encountered. Familiarity,Psychological Recognition,Recognition (Psychology),Psychology Recognition,Recognition, Psychological

Related Publications

Tom Mercer, and Gemma A Jones
September 1994, Journal of experimental psychology. Learning, memory, and cognition,
Tom Mercer, and Gemma A Jones
October 2017, Attention, perception & psychophysics,
Tom Mercer, and Gemma A Jones
January 2022, Frontiers in behavioral neuroscience,
Tom Mercer, and Gemma A Jones
May 2020, Memory & cognition,
Tom Mercer, and Gemma A Jones
October 2023, Memory (Hove, England),
Tom Mercer, and Gemma A Jones
January 1999, Neuroscience and behavioral physiology,
Tom Mercer, and Gemma A Jones
May 2019, Neuroscience research,
Tom Mercer, and Gemma A Jones
January 1998, Zhurnal vysshei nervnoi deiatelnosti imeni I P Pavlova,
Copied contents to your clipboard!