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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 23, 2026

A Real-world What-Where-When Memory Test

A Real-world What-Where-When Memory Test

Published on: May 16, 2017

Likelihood ratio decisions in memory: three implied regularities.

Murray Glanzer¹, Andrew Hilford, Laurence T Maloney

¹New York University, New York, New York, USA. mg@psych.nyu.edu

Psychonomic Bulletin & Review

|May 20, 2009

Summary

This study reveals that signal detection theory

Area of Science:

Cognitive Psychology
Psychophysics
Decision Science

Background:

Signal detection theory is a framework for understanding perception and decision-making.
Recognition memory research often relies on signal detection models.
Distributional assumptions in these models can influence outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

To analyze four signal detection models for recognition memory.
To investigate the implications of the likelihood ratio decision axis.
To identify and explain regularities in recognition memory data.

Main Methods:

Analysis of four signal detection models with varying distributional assumptions.
Derivation of equations explaining specific recognition memory effects.

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Computational modeling and examination of empirical recognition memory data.

Main Results:

The likelihood ratio decision axis implies the mirror effect, variance effect, and z-ROC length effect.
Equations were derived to demonstrate how these regularities arise from the models.
These predicted regularities were observed in diverse recognition memory studies.

Conclusions:

The findings support a generalization that individuals make efficient recognition decisions.
Likelihood ratios are the basis for these efficient recognition decisions.
The study validates the predictive power of signal detection theory in recognition memory.