Taylor, John C., Macken, Bill and Jones, Dylan M. (2015) A matter of emphasis : linguistic stress habits modulate serial recall. Memory & Cognition, 43 (3). pp. 520-537. doi:10.3758/s13421-014-0466-2

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Abstract

Models of short-term memory for sequential information rely on item-level, feature-based descriptions to account for errors in serial recall. Transposition errors within alternating similar/dissimilar letter sequences derive from interactions between overlapping features. However, in two experiments, we demonstrated that the characteristics of the sequence are what determine the fates of items, rather than the properties ascribed to the items themselves. Performance in alternating sequences is determined by the way that the sequences themselves induce particular prosodic rehearsal patterns, and not by the nature of the items per se. In a serial recall task, the shapes of the canonical “saw-tooth” serial position curves and transposition error probabilities at successive input–output distances were modulated by subvocal rehearsal strategies, despite all item-based parameters being held constant. We replicated this finding using nonalternating lists, thus demonstrating that transpositions are substantially influenced by prosodic features—such as stress—that emerge during subvocal rehearsal.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Divisions:	Faculty of Social Sciences > Warwick Business School > Behavioural Science Faculty of Social Sciences > Warwick Business School
Journal or Publication Title:	Memory & Cognition
Publisher:	Psychonomic Society, Inc.
ISSN:	0090-502X
Official Date:	4 October 2015
Dates:	Date Event 4 October 2015 Published
Volume:	43
Number:	3
Page Range:	pp. 520-537
DOI:	10.3758/s13421-014-0466-2
Status:	Peer Reviewed
Publication Status:	Published

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