REMINISCENCE IN SHORT-TERM MEMORY

Studied reminiscence in the short-term memory of single associations in a series of 6 experiments. Data indicated that duration of interpair interval was the primary factor producing reminiscence, suggesting that reminiscence is attributable to interference from previously presented pairs. Essentially no forgetting occurred after 8 sec., regardless of stimulus presentation duration or verbal material. Results were considered in relation to other studies which demonstrated reminiscence, and the findings also were related to 3 hypotheses involving the nature of the interference found in the present experiments: (1) classical interference, which attributes interference to the amount and similarity of material; (2) a 2-stage processing hypothesis, which attributes interference to the 1st or processing stage; and (3) an acquisition bypothesis which attributes interference to the influence of prior pairs on acquisition, not retention, of new pairs. (16 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved). © 1969 American Psychological Association.