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Short-term memory capacity: magic number or magic spell?

R Schweickert, B Boruff

    Journal of Experimental Psychology. Learning, Memory, and Cognition
    |July 1, 1986
    PubMed
    Summary
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    Immediate memory span is linked to how quickly items are spoken. Faster pronunciation allows for longer lists to be recalled, supporting a model of verbal trace duration.

    Area of Science:

    • Cognitive Psychology
    • Psycholinguistics
    • Memory Research

    Background:

    • Previous research indicates a correlation between item pronunciation speed and memory span.
    • The duration of the verbal trace is hypothesized to be approximately 1.5 seconds.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To test a model where immediate recall probability depends on list recitation time relative to verbal trace duration.
    • To investigate the relationship between pronunciation time and recall accuracy across different materials.

    Main Methods:

    • Recall probability was measured for lists of varying lengths using six different materials.
    • Participants recited the lists aloud to determine pronunciation time.
    • Statistical analysis related recall probability (as standard normal deviates) to pronunciation time.

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    Main Results:

    • A linear relationship was observed between pronunciation time and the probability of correct recall.
    • The distribution of verbal trace duration across subjects was approximated by a normal distribution.
    • The estimated mean duration of the verbal trace was 1.88 seconds.

    Conclusions:

    • The proposed model successfully explains 95% of the variance in immediate recall.
    • Pronunciation speed is a critical factor influencing immediate memory performance.
    • The findings support the concept of a limited-duration verbal trace in short-term memory.