Serial memory error patterns in bilinguals and monolinguals

Many models of serial recall assume a chaining mechanism whereby each item associatively evokes the next in sequence. Chaining predicts that, when sequences comprise alternating confusable and non-confusable items, confusable items should increase the probability of errors in recall of following non-confusable items. Two experiments using visual presentation and one using vocalized presentation test this prediction and demonstrate that: (1) more errors occur in recall of confusable than alternated non-confusable items, revealing a “sawtooth” in serial position curves; (2) the presence of confusable items often has no influence on recall of the non-confusable items; and (3) the confusability of items does not affect the type of errors that follow them. These results are inconsistent with the chaining hypothesis. Further analysis of errors shows that most transpositions occur over short distances (the locality constraint), confusable items tend to interchange (the similarity constraint), and repeated responses are rare and far apart (the repetition constraint). The complete pattern of errors presents problems for most current models of serial recall, whether or not they employ chaining. An alternative model is described that is consistent with these constraints and that simulates the detailed pattern of errors observed.

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Similarities in Error Patterns Across Modalities and Codes in Serial Memory

PsycEXTRA Dataset ◽

10.1037/e537052012-457 ◽

2004 ◽

Author(s):

Sebastien Tremblay ◽

Katherine Guerard ◽

Cindy Chamberland ◽

Mathieu Couture

Keyword(s):

Error Patterns ◽

Serial Memory

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Validation of Memory Error Patterns on the Rey Complex Figure and Recognition Trial

Applied Neuropsychology ◽

10.1207/s15324826an0503_2 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 5 (3) ◽

pp. 120-131 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

John E. Meyers ◽

Marie Volbrecht

Keyword(s):

Error Patterns ◽

Memory Error ◽

Complex Figure ◽

Rey Complex Figure

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Production of Subject-Verb Agreement in Spanish as a Second Language

Experimental Psychology (formerly Zeitschrift für Experimentelle Psychologie) ◽

10.1026//1617-3169.50.3.196 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 50 (3) ◽

pp. 196-203 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Janet Nicol ◽

Delia Greth

Keyword(s):

Second Language ◽

Spanish Speakers ◽

English Speakers ◽

Error Patterns ◽

Verb Agreement ◽

Different Types ◽

Semantic Variables ◽

Advanced Proficiency

Abstract. In this paper, we report the results of a study of English speakers who have learned Spanish as a second language. All were late learners who have achieved near- advanced proficiency in Spanish. The focus of the research is on the production of subject-verb agreement errors and the factors that influence the incidence of such errors. There is some evidence that English and Spanish subject-verb agreement differ in susceptibility to interference from different types of variables; specifically, it has been reported that Spanish speakers show a greater influence of semantic factors in their implementation of subject-verb agreement ( Vigliocco, Butterworth, & Garrett, 1996 ). In our study, all participants were tested in English (L1) and Spanish (L2). Results indicate nearly identical error patterns: these speakers show no greater influence of semantic variables in the computation of agreement when they are speaking Spanish than when they are speaking English.

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The Effect of Path Length and Display Size on Memory for Spatial Information

Experimental Psychology (formerly Zeitschrift für Experimentelle Psychologie) ◽

10.1027/1618-3169/a000137 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 59 (3) ◽

pp. 147-152 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Katherine Guérard ◽

Sébastien Tremblay

Keyword(s):

Path Length ◽

Potential Role ◽

Spatial Information ◽

Recall Performance ◽

Minor Role ◽

Length Effect ◽

Serial Memory ◽

Fixed Reference ◽

A Minor

In serial memory for spatial information, some studies showed that recall performance suffers when the distance between successive locations increases relatively to the size of the display in which they are presented (the path length effect; e.g., Parmentier et al., 2005) but not when distance is increased by enlarging the size of the display (e.g., Smyth & Scholey, 1994). In the present study, we examined the effect of varying the absolute and relative distance between to-be-remembered items on memory for spatial information. We manipulated path length using small (15″) and large (64″) screens within the same design. In two experiments, we showed that distance was disruptive mainly when it is varied relatively to a fixed reference frame, though increasing the size of the display also had a small deleterious effect on recall. The insertion of a retention interval did not influence these effects, suggesting that rehearsal plays a minor role in mediating the effects of distance on serial spatial memory. We discuss the potential role of perceptual organization in light of the pattern of results.

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