Ganzfeld perceptual field and gender effects on short-term memory as a function of rate of digit presentation. 1996

W F Vitulli, and K L Laconsay, and H A Shepard
Department of Psychology, University of South Alabama, Mobile 36688, USA.

Efforts to enhance short term memory for digit span (in serial recall) included the Ganzfeld perceptual field and variation in the rate (interstimulus interval: 1 sec., 2 sec., 3 sec.) of 25 auditorily presented computer-generated random numbers (1 to 5). Undergraduate volunteers (52 men and 91 women) wore goggles consisting of halves of translucent ping-pong balls while viewing a red lamp and listening to 60 decibels of white noise. Control subjects wore goggles with clear plastic lenses. Participants were instructed to recall 25 random digits in the correct series (vocalized sequentially through headphones worn by the subjects) immediately after their presentations. A mixed 2 x 2 x 3 split plot analysis of variance yielded a significant effect for digit rates, and post hoc Scheffe tests of multiple comparisons showed differences in recall between interstimulus intervals of 1 and 2 sec., 1 and 3 sec., and 2 and 3 sec. Other Scheffe comparisons showed that men scored higher than women with the 3-sec. interstimulus interval and with the "clear" perceptual field. Ganzfeld may have reduced distractibility for women as compared with recall following the "clear" perceptual field. Serial-position effects favored "primacy," yet the "recency effect" was seen within the last 5 serial positions.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D008570 Memory, Short-Term Remembrance of information for a few seconds to hours. Immediate Recall,Memory, Immediate,Working Memory,Memory, Shortterm,Immediate Memories,Immediate Memory,Immediate Recalls,Memories, Immediate,Memories, Short-Term,Memories, Shortterm,Memory, Short Term,Recall, Immediate,Recalls, Immediate,Short-Term Memories,Short-Term Memory,Shortterm Memories,Shortterm Memory,Working Memories
D010364 Pattern Recognition, Visual Mental process to visually perceive a critical number of facts (the pattern), such as characters, shapes, displays, or designs. Recognition, Visual Pattern,Visual Pattern Recognition
D005260 Female Females
D005783 Gender Identity A person's concept of self as being male and masculine or female and feminine, or ambivalent, based in part on physical characteristics, parental responses, and psychological and social pressures. It is the internal experience of gender role. Gender,Gender Identities,Identity, Gender
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
D001288 Attention Focusing on certain aspects of current experience to the exclusion of others. It is the act of heeding or taking notice or concentrating. Focus of Attention,Selective Attention,Social Attention,Attention Focus,Attention, Selective,Attention, Social,Selective Attentions
D012683 Sensory Deprivation The absence or restriction of the usual external sensory stimuli to which the individual responds. Deprivation, Sensory,Deprivations, Sensory,Sensory Deprivations
D012691 Serial Learning Learning to make a series of responses in exact order. Learning, Serial,Learnings, Serial,Serial Learnings

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