Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 26, 2026
19:32
Contextual and Cued Fear Conditioning Test Using a Video Analyzing System in Mice
Published on: March 1, 2014
52.7K
Conditions of highly specific learning through cued recall
Steven C Pan1,2, Jarrett Lovelett3, Derek Stoeckenius3
1Department of Psychology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA. stevencpan@psych.ucla.edu.
Psychonomic Bulletin & Review
|April 3, 2019
Summary
Testing effects on memory recall are specific to the tested item. This study found that cued recall specificity arises from accessing episodic memory of a study event, not the act of retrieval itself.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Neuroscience of Learning
- Memory Research
Background:
- Cued recall testing enhances memory for the tested item but not other items from the same study set.
- This specificity suggests a unique learning mechanism tied to the retrieval process.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the source of learning specificity in cued recall.
- To differentiate between general specificity of cued recall and specificity linked to episodic memory retrieval.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a pretesting paradigm where cued recall occurred without prior study opportunity.
- Examined retrieval from semantic memory versus episodic memory.
Main Results:
- Learning specificity in cued recall was dependent on accessing episodic memory of a study event.
- Retrieval from semantic memory did not produce the same level of specificity.
Conclusions:
- The act of recall itself does not inherently lead to highly specific learning.
- Specificity in learning via cued recall is attributed to the retrieval of information from a specific past study experience (episodic memory).
Related Concept Videos
01:14Avoidance Learning and Learned Helplessness
2.5K
Avoidance learning and learned helplessness are critical concepts in understanding behavioral responses to negative stimuli.
Avoidance learning occurs when an organism learns that a specific behavior can prevent an unpleasant outcome. For example, a student who receives a bad grade may start studying harder to avoid future poor grades. This behavior persists even when the negative outcome is no longer present. Avoidance learning is powerful because it maintains behavior in the absence of the...
Avoidance learning occurs when an organism learns that a specific behavior can prevent an unpleasant outcome. For example, a student who receives a bad grade may start studying harder to avoid future poor grades. This behavior persists even when the negative outcome is no longer present. Avoidance learning is powerful because it maintains behavior in the absence of the...
2.5K
01:25Learning Disabilities
586
Learning disabilities are cognitive disorders caused by neurological impairments that affect cognitive functions like language and reading, without indicating overall intellectual or developmental challenges. These disabilities differ from global intellectual or developmental disabilities as they are limited to distinct cognitive functions. Common learning disabilities include dysgraphia, dyslexia, and dyscalculia, each of which impacts unique aspects of learning.
Dyslexia
Dyslexia is a...
Dyslexia
Dyslexia is a...
586
01:27Associative Learning
1.3K
Associative learning is a fundamental concept in behavioral psychology, wherein a connection is established between two stimuli or events, leading to a learned response. This process is critical in understanding how behaviors are acquired and modified. Conditioning, the mechanism through which associations are formed, can be divided into two main types: classical conditioning and operant conditioning, each elucidating different aspects of associative learning.
Classical conditioning, also known...
Classical conditioning, also known...
1.3K
01:22Purposive Learning
464
E. C. Tolman emphasized the purposiveness of behavior — the idea that much of our behavior is goal-directed. For instance, employees who aim for a promotion work diligently to meet their targets. Tolman argued that when classical conditioning and operant conditioning occur, the organism acquires certain expectations. In classical conditioning, a child might fear a dog because they expect it to bite. In operant conditioning, a person might consistently work overtime because they expect a...
464
01:12Observational Learning
878
Albert Bandura's observational learning, also known as imitation or modeling, occurs when a person observes and imitates another's behavior. It is a quicker process than operant conditioning. A well-known example is the Bobo doll study, where children who saw an adult acting aggressively towards the doll were more likely to act aggressively when left alone, compared to those who observed a nonaggressive adult. Many psychologists view observational learning as a form of latent learning...
878
01:18Introduction to Learning
1.0K
Learning is the process of acquiring knowledge or skills through practice or experience, leading to long-lasting behavioral changes. This acquisition occurs through interaction with the environment and requires practice or experience. For instance, mastering a skill such as surfing requires considerable practice and experience, highlighting the essential role of repeated interactions with the environment in learning.
In contrast to learned behaviors, unlearned behaviors such as crying, sexual...
In contrast to learned behaviors, unlearned behaviors such as crying, sexual...
1.0K