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I remember it now, so I'll remember it later: Working memory strength guides predictions for long-term memory
Julia Krasnoff1, Alessandra S Souza2,3
1Department of Cognitive Psychology, University of Zurich, Binzmuehlestrasse 14/22, 8050, Zurich, Switzerland. julia.krasnoff@gmail.com.
Memory & Cognition
|March 26, 2024
Summary
Judgments of learning are guided by working memory (WM) strength, not just long-term memory (LTM). This study revises memory-strength theory, showing WM cues significantly influence learning predictions.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Neuroscience
- Memory Research
Background:
- Judgments of learning (JOLs) have traditionally been viewed as inferential, relying on cue utilization.
- Previous theories posited that memory strength directly guides JOLs, but this was largely dismissed.
- The distinct roles of working memory (WM) and long-term memory (LTM) were overlooked in prior JOL research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To test a revised memory-strength theory where JOLs are influenced by working memory (WM) representations.
- To investigate the role of WM strength in guiding JOLs, contrasting it with long-term memory (LTM) performance.
- To determine if WM strength is a critical factor in understanding JOLs.
Main Methods:
- Participants memorized object sequences of varying lengths (2 or 4 objects).
- JOLs were collected for subsequent long-term memory (LTM) tests.
- Working memory (WM) performance was assessed, and its correlation with JOLs was analyzed across multiple experiments and tasks.
Main Results:
- Sequence length impacted WM performance but not LTM performance.
- JOLs were higher for shorter sequences (2 objects) compared to longer ones (4 objects).
- JOLs demonstrated a stronger correlation with WM performance than with LTM performance.
Conclusions:
- Findings support a revised memory-strength theory incorporating WM.
- Working memory (WM) strength is a crucial factor influencing judgments of learning (JOLs).
- Future research on JOLs should explicitly consider the contribution of WM strength.
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