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Serial position memory in the visual-spatial domain: reconstructing sequences of unfamiliar faces
Mary M Smyth1, Dennis C Hay, Graham J Hitch
1Department of Psychology, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK. m.smyth@lancaster.ac.uk
Summary
Memory for unfamiliar faces shows primacy and recency effects, similar to verbal memory. These findings suggest that serial memory processes may be modality-general, not relying on verbal encoding.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Neuroscience
- Memory Research
Background:
- Serial position effects, including primacy and recency, are well-documented in verbal memory.
- The extent to which these effects apply to non-verbal stimuli, such as faces, is less understood.
- Investigating face memory can reveal fundamental aspects of human memory systems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate serial position effects in the memory of unfamiliar faces.
- To determine if face memory relies on verbal encoding strategies.
- To explore the modality-general nature of serial memory.
Main Methods:
- Participants viewed unfamiliar faces presented sequentially.
- A serial reconstruction task was used to assess memory for the order of presentation.
- Visual similarity and articulatory suppression were manipulated to probe encoding and retrieval processes.
Main Results:
- Serial position functions for faces mirrored those found for verbal materials, showing primacy and recency.
- Errors were predominantly to adjacent serial positions.
- Articulatory suppression did not interact with serial position or visual similarity effects.
- Serial position effects persisted even with brief exposure (300 ms) and filled retention intervals.
Conclusions:
- Serial memory for unfamiliar faces exhibits robust primacy and recency effects.
- These findings suggest that face memory does not solely rely on verbal encoding.
- Key components of serial memory appear to be general across different sensory modalities.