Concurrent task effects on memory retrieval.

Full Abstract

Previous studies combining continuous free recall with a concurrent task have generally shown that concurrent tasks impose fairly negligible effects on memory retrieval. By contrast, dual-task studies employing either cued recall or semantic retrieval reveal gross memory impairment and suggest that retrieval is delayed by the centrally demanding phase of the concurrent tasks (i.e., response selection). To explore this conflict, subjects performed continuous free recall while carrying out a serial-choice-response time (RT) task, as in the previous free recall studies. Unlike these previous studies, however, the choice-RT task utilized arbitrary stimulus-response mappings in order to increase the proportion of time devoted to the centrally demanding response selection phase. Recall total was reduced significantly, and recall latency was slowed substantially.

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Author information

Author/s: Rohrer, Doug (D); Pashler, Harold E (HE);

Affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida 33620-7200, USA. drohrer(-atsign-)chuma1.cas.usf.edu

Grants: MH45584 (Agency:NIMH NIH HHS)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

Journal: Psychonomic bulletin & review (Psychon Bull Rev), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2003-Mar; vol 10 (issue 1) : pp 96-103

Dates: Created 2003/05/15; Completed 2003/08/05; Revised 2007/11/14;

PMID: 12747495, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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