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Construction and updating of event models in auditory event processing
Markus Huff1, Annika E Maurer1, Irina Brich2
1Department of Psychology, University of Tübingen.
Journal of Experimental Psychology. Learning, Memory, and Cognition
|September 22, 2017
Summary
Humans create event boundaries in continuous sensory input, but memory benefits are not always linked to the amount of change. This study found incremental updating during encoding but not necessarily during retrieval.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Neuroscience
- Memory Research
Background:
- Humans segment continuous sensory information into discrete events, perceiving event boundaries at points of change.
- Current theories suggest sensory changes trigger event model updating, with increased encoding effort leading to memory benefits at boundaries.
- Reading time studies indicate incremental updating of event models.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate event processing, memory formation, and reading times using audio drama and its transcript.
- To examine whether event model updating is incremental and affects recognition memory.
- To disentangle encoding and retrieval processes in event cognition.
Main Methods:
- Conducted 5 experiments using audio drama and its transcript as stimuli.
- Measured memory formation and reading times to assess event processing.
- Included normally sighted and blind participants to test recognition memory.
Main Results:
- Replicated the event boundary advantage effect for memory in Experiments 1a and 1b.
- Found no support for incremental updating in recognition memory in Experiments 2a and 2b.
- Demonstrated incremental updating processes during encoding (reading times) in Experiment 3, but recognition performance remained unaffected by the amount of change.
Conclusions:
- Event model updating appears to be incremental during the encoding phase, as indicated by reading times.
- Recognition memory performance is not consistently enhanced by the amount of change at event boundaries.
- Findings contribute to understanding event cognition theories, particularly regarding the relationship between updating processes and memory outcomes.