Mnemonic training for the acquisition of skilled digit memory
- This article outlines a research strategy for investigating, in a laboratory setting, the acquisition and the "limits" of a cognitive skill. Expert digit memory is used as an illustration. Two participants with initial average digit- and word-span memory were trained to memorize and reproduce strings of 80 to 90 digits presented at 10- to 1-sec rates. The instruction and training program, based on a theory of skilled memory, focused on three components: (a) acquisition of a mnemonic system (i.e., recoding digits into historical dates or concrete nouns), (b) use of a long-term memory retrieval structure (i.e., instruction in the Method of Loci), and (c) improvement in processing speed. After 86 experimental sessions, one participant recalled 90 random digits presented at a 1-sec rate. The digits were, however, constrained to be compatible with the participant's historical knowledge. The second participant recalled 80 random digits presented at a 5-sec rate after 70 sessions. Speed of encoding and retrieval processing was the onlyThis article outlines a research strategy for investigating, in a laboratory setting, the acquisition and the "limits" of a cognitive skill. Expert digit memory is used as an illustration. Two participants with initial average digit- and word-span memory were trained to memorize and reproduce strings of 80 to 90 digits presented at 10- to 1-sec rates. The instruction and training program, based on a theory of skilled memory, focused on three components: (a) acquisition of a mnemonic system (i.e., recoding digits into historical dates or concrete nouns), (b) use of a long-term memory retrieval structure (i.e., instruction in the Method of Loci), and (c) improvement in processing speed. After 86 experimental sessions, one participant recalled 90 random digits presented at a 1-sec rate. The digits were, however, constrained to be compatible with the participant's historical knowledge. The second participant recalled 80 random digits presented at a 5-sec rate after 70 sessions. Speed of encoding and retrieval processing was the only component that required extensive practice for skilled digit-memory acquisition.…
Author details: | Reinhold KlieglORCiDGND, Jacqui Smith, Jutta Hechhausen, Paul B. Bates |
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URN: | urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-40252 |
Publication series (Volume number): | Zweitveröffentlichungen der Universität Potsdam : Humanwissenschaftliche Reihe (paper 148) |
Publication type: | Postprint |
Language: | English |
Publication year: | 1987 |
Publishing institution: | Universität Potsdam |
Release date: | 2009/12/22 |
Source: | Cognition and Instruction 4 (1987) 4, p. 203-223, ISSN 1532-690X, DOI 10.1207/s1532690xci0404_1 |
Organizational units: | Humanwissenschaftliche Fakultät / Strukturbereich Kognitionswissenschaften / Department Psychologie |
DDC classification: | 1 Philosophie und Psychologie / 15 Psychologie / 150 Psychologie |
Institution name at the time of the publication: | Humanwissenschaftliche Fakultät / Institut für Psychologie |
License (German): | Keine öffentliche Lizenz: Unter Urheberrechtsschutz |
External remark: | The original publication is available at http://www.informaworld.com: Cognition and Instruction . - 4 (1987) Issue 4, p. 203-223 ISSN 1532-690X DOI 10.1207/s1532690xci0404_1 |