scholarly journals Frequency effects in recognition and recall

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vencislav Popov ◽  
Lynne Reder
Keyword(s):  
Word Frequency ◽  
Memory Load ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Memory Performance ◽  
Stimulus Frequency ◽  
Presentation Rate ◽  
Human Memory ◽  
Cued Recall ◽  
Dual Process ◽  
Frequency Effects

Stimulus frequency, which is often evaluated using normative word frequency, is among the variables that have the most diverse and puzzling effects on memory. Word frequency can either facilitate or impair memory performance depending on the study and testing conditions. Understanding why and under what conditions frequency has positive or negative effects on performance is crucial for understanding basic properties about the human memory system. As a result, the study of word frequency has led to the development of multiple memory models. This chapter summarizes the current knowledge concerning word frequency effects on item recognition, associative recognition, free recall, cued recall, serial recall, and source memory. We also discuss how word frequency interacts with manipulations concerning presentation rate, list-composition, age of the participants, memory load, midazolam injections, response deadlines and remember-know judgements. This review of frequency effects in memory identified four major classes of empirical findings, which can be further subdivided into a total of 21 key phenomena that any theory should account for. Based on these phenomena, we identify three high-level principles that characterize the diverse effects of frequency on memory – the probe dependency principle, the dual process principle, and the resource demands principle.

Spreading Activation and Involvement: An Experimental Test of a Cognitive Model of Involvement

1993 ◽  
Vol 70 (4) ◽  
pp. 854-867 ◽  
Author(s):  
Glen T. Cameron
Keyword(s):  
Prior Knowledge ◽  
Memory Performance ◽  
Cognitive Model ◽  
Human Memory ◽  
Cued Recall ◽  
Long Term Memory ◽  
Spreading Activation ◽  
Persuasive Messages ◽  
Memory Processing ◽  
Definition Of

This article offers a definition of involvement based on a spreading activation model of human memory processing. Involvement is viewed as the spread of activation through working and long-term memory. Topics resulting in more extensive and/or stronger activation result in higher involvement. As a first test of the definition offered, an experiment was conducted to explore the effects of involvement and limited prior knowledge on cued recall and recognition memory for elements of persuasive messages common in investor relations. Evidence from the measurement of reaction time for recognition supported the model. Theoretical and practical implications of the differences in the effects of prior knowledge and involvement on different types of memory performance are discussed.

The “How” of Animacy Effects in Episodic Memory

2015 ◽  
Vol 62 (6) ◽  
pp. 371-384 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick Bonin ◽  
Margaux Gelin ◽  
Betty Laroche ◽  
Alain Méot ◽  
Aurélia Bugaiska
Keyword(s):  
Memory Load ◽  
Recall Performance ◽  
Memory Task ◽  
Human Memory ◽  
Recall Rate ◽  
Interactive Imagery ◽  
Ultimate Explanation ◽  
Better Than ◽  
Observation Results

Abstract. Animates are better remembered than inanimates. According to the adaptive view of human memory ( Nairne, 2010 ; Nairne & Pandeirada, 2010a , 2010b ), this observation results from the fact that animates are more important for survival than inanimates. This ultimate explanation of animacy effects has to be complemented by proximate explanations. Moreover, animacy currently represents an uncontrolled word characteristic in most cognitive research ( VanArsdall, Nairne, Pandeirada, & Cogdill, 2015 ). In four studies, we therefore investigated the “how” of animacy effects. Study 1 revealed that words denoting animates were recalled better than those referring to inanimates in an intentional memory task. Study 2 revealed that adding a concurrent memory load when processing words for the animacy dimension did not impede the animacy effect on recall rates. Study 3A was an exact replication of Study 2 and Study 3B used a higher concurrent memory load. In these two follow-up studies, animacy effects on recall performance were again not altered by a concurrent memory load. Finally, Study 4 showed that using interactive imagery to encode animate and inanimate words did not alter the recall rate of animate words but did increase the recall of inanimate words. Taken together, the findings suggest that imagery processes contribute to these effects.

Experience Matters

2020 ◽  
Vol 228 (4) ◽  
pp. 254-263 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pedro S. Mendes ◽  
Karlos Luna ◽  
Pedro B. Albuquerque
Keyword(s):  
Word Frequency ◽  
High Frequency ◽  
Recall Test ◽  
Judgments Of Learning ◽  
Direct Experience ◽  
Frequency Effects ◽  
Actual Frequency ◽  
Actual Word ◽  
High Frequency Words

Abstract. The present study tested if word frequency effects on judgments of learning (JOLs) are exclusively due to beliefs or if the direct experience with the items also plays a role. Across four experiments, participants read prompts about the frequency of the words (high/low), which could be congruent/incongruent with the words’ actual frequency. They made pre-study JOLs (except Experiment 1b), immediate JOLs, and completed a recall test. If experience drives the effect, JOLs should be based on actual word frequency rather than the prompts. Results showed higher pre-study JOLs for prompts of high frequency, but higher immediate JOLs for high-frequency words regardless of the prompt, suggesting an effect of direct experience with the words. In Experiments 2 and 3, we manipulated participants’ beliefs, finding a small effect of beliefs on JOLs. We conclude that, regarding word frequency, direct experience with the items seems more relevant than beliefs when making immediate JOLs.

Word frequency effects and masked repetition priming: An ERP study

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marianna D. Eddy ◽  
Jonathan Grainger ◽  
Danielle Lopez ◽  
Phillip J. Holcomb
Keyword(s):  
Word Frequency ◽  
Repetition Priming ◽  
Frequency Effects ◽  
Masked Repetition

Masked repetition priming and word frequency effects for different Japanese scripts

1997 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yasushi Hino ◽  
Stephen J. Lupker ◽  
Taeko Ogawa ◽  
Chris R. Sears
Keyword(s):  
Word Frequency ◽  
Repetition Priming ◽  
Frequency Effects ◽  
Masked Repetition

Modelling a Multi-Dimensional Model of Memory Performance in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: A Multi-Level Meta-Analytic Review.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sofia Persson ◽  
Alan Yates ◽  
Klaus Kessler ◽  
Ben Harkin
Keyword(s):  
Executive Function ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder ◽  
Memory Load ◽  
Memory Performance ◽  
Effect Sizes ◽  
Driving Mechanism ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive ◽  
Compulsive Disorder ◽  
Analytic Review ◽  
Multi Level

Even though memory performance is a commonly researched aspect of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), a coherent and unified explanation of the role of specific cognitive factors has remained elusive. To address this, the present meta-analysis examined the predictive validity of Harkin and Kessler’s (2011) Executive Function (E), Binding Complexity (B) and Memory Load (L) Classification System with regards to affected vs. unaffected memory performance in OCD. We employed a multi-level meta-analytic approach (Viechtbauer, 2010) to accommodate the interdependent nature of the EBL model and interdependency of effect sizes (305 effect sizes from 144 studies, including 4424 OCD patients). Results revealed that the EBL model predicted memory performance, i.e., as EBL demand increases, those with OCD performed progressively worse on memory tasks. Executive function was the driving mechanism behind the EBL’s impact on OCD memory performance and negated effect size differences between visual and verbal tasks in those with OCD. Comparisons of sub-task effect sizes were also generally in accord with the cognitive parameters of the EBL taxonomy. We conclude that standardised coding of tasks along individual cognitive dimensions and multi-level meta-analyses provides a new approach to examine multi-dimensional models of memory and cognitive performance in OCD and other disorders.

EXPRESS: Bored, distracted and forgetful – The impact of mind wandering and boredom on memory encoding

2021 ◽  
pp. 174702182110263
Author(s):  
Philippe Blondé ◽  
Marco Sperduti ◽  
Dominique Makowski ◽  
Pascale Piolino
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Memory Load ◽  
Memory Performance ◽  
Load Condition ◽  
Recognition Task ◽  
Mind Wandering ◽  
Memory Encoding ◽  
Working Memory Load ◽  
Thought Probes ◽  
The Impact

Mind wandering, defined as focusing attention toward task unrelated thoughts, is a common mental state known to impair memory encoding. This phenomenon is closely linked to boredom. Very few studies, however, have tested the potential impact of boredom on memory encoding. Thus, the present study aimed at manipulating mind wandering and boredom during an incidental memory encoding task, to test their differential impact on memory encoding. Thirty-two participants performed a variant of the n-back task in which they had to indicate if the current on-screen object was the same as the previous one (1-back; low working memory load) or the one presented three trials before (3-back; high working memory load). Moreover, thought probes assessing either mind wandering or boredom were randomly presented. Afterward, a surprise recognition task was delivered. Results showed that mind wandering and boredom were highly correlated, and both decreased in the high working memory load condition, while memory performance increased. Although both boredom and mind wandering predicted memory performance taken separately, we found that mind wandering was the only reliable predictor of memory performance when controlling for boredom and working memory load. Model comparisons also revealed that a model with boredom only was outperformed by a model with mind wandering only and a model with both mind wandering and boredom, suggesting that the predictive contribution of boredom in the complete model is minimal. The present results confirm the high correlation between mind wandering and boredom and suggest that the hindering effect of boredom on memory is subordinate to the effect of mind wandering.

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