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Using Rapid Serial Visual Presentation to Measure Set-Specific Capture, a Consequence of Distraction While Multitasking
Published on: August 29, 2018
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Delayed memory for complex visual stimuli does not benefit from distraction during encoding
Lea M Bartsch1, Philipp Musfeld2
1Department of Psychology, Cognitive Psychology Unit, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. l.bartsch@psychologie.uzh.ch.
Memory & Cognition
|September 29, 2023
Summary
Distractions during encoding do not improve delayed memory performance for complex visual stimuli, challenging the covert retrieval model. Memory transfer to long-term storage appears unaffected by these proposed retrieval processes.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Neuroscience
- Memory Research
Background:
- The covert retrieval model suggests distractions enhance delayed memory by interrupting encoding in working memory (WM).
- Previous studies indicated delayed memory improves with distraction, a phenomenon termed the McCabe effect.
- Replication of the McCabe effect, particularly for complex visual stimuli, has been inconsistent.
Purpose of the Study:
- To extensively replicate a prior study demonstrating the McCabe effect for complex visual stimuli.
- To investigate boundary conditions influencing the covert retrieval model's predictions.
- To determine if distraction during encoding impacts delayed memory for visual stimuli.
Main Methods:
- Four experiments were conducted to test the covert retrieval model.
- Investigated five boundary conditions: stimulus type, distractor type, task difficulty expectation, WM load, and LTM test expectation.
- Replicated a previous study using complex visual stimuli (faces, doors).
Main Results:
- Failed to replicate the McCabe effect across four experiments.
- Delayed memory for faces and other complex visual stimuli did not benefit from distraction-induced covert retrieval.
- No evidence was found supporting the influence of covert retrieval processes on WM to LTM transfer.
Conclusions:
- The covert retrieval model's prediction that distraction enhances delayed memory was not supported.
- Information transfer from working memory to long-term memory is not influenced by covert retrieval processes.
- A fixed proportion of information is laid down as a permanent trace, irrespective of encoding distractions.
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