RESPONSE LATENCIES IN DISCRIMINATIONS OF RECENCY

In each of 4 experiments, 4 undergraduates were asked to report which of 2 test words had been presented more recently in a list of 4 or 10 words. The study position of the probe that had been presented earlier in the list had little or no effect on response latency, whereas the study position of the probe that had been presented later in the list had a large and reliable effect on response latency. In Exp II, some test items were lures, and they had no effect on response latency. Results are incompatible with several theories of recency discrimination and strongly suggest parallel self-terminating processing of the probes. (16 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved). © 1979 American Psychological Association.