An investigation was conducted to ascertain the influence of the duration of the time interval between successive repetitions of a discrete motor movement in a short-term motor memory paradigm. With one repetition a long interval increased error relative to a short interval. The opposite was true for seven repetitions; a long interval improved accuracy. The results were discussed in terms of the “trace shrinkage” hypothesis and compared with those from similar studies using verbal responses.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
AdamsJ. A., & DijkstraS.Short-term memory for motor responses. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 1966, 71, 314–318.
2.
AdamsJ. A.GoetzE. T., & MarshallP. H.Response feedback and motor learning. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 1972, 92, 391–397.
3.
AdamsJ. A.MarshallP. H., & GoetzE. T.Response feedback and short-term motor retention. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 1972, 92, 92–95.
4.
HellyerS.Frequency of stimulus presentation and short-term decrement in recall. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 1962, 64, 650.
5.
HermanL. M., & BaileyD. R.Comparative effects of retroactive and proactive interference in motor short-term memory. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 1970, 86, 407–415.
6.
MarshallP. H.Recognition and recall in short-term motor memory. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 1972, 95, 147–153.
7.
MeltonA. W.The situation with respect to the spacing of repetitions and memory. Journal of Verbal Learning and Verbal Behavior, 1970, 9, 596–606.
8.
PepperR. L., & HermanL. M.Decay and interference effects in the short-term retention of a discrete motor act. Journal of Experimental Psychology, Monograph Supplement, 1970, 83, 1–17.
9.
PetersonL. R.Immediate memory: Data and theory. In CoferC. N. & MusgraveB. S. (Eds.), Verbal behavior and learning: Problems and processes.New York: McGraw-Hill, 1963. Pp. 336–353.
10.
PollatsekA. W.Rehearsal, interference, and spacing of practice in short-term memory. Human Performance Center Technical Report No. 16, Univer. of Michigan, Ann Arbor, 1969.