Coppes, Michelle (2023) Encoding of Memories for the Near and Far Future. Master thesis, Psychology.
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Abstract
Abstract Memory is an essential cognitive process in our daily lives, as it influences how we perceive the world and make decisions. Nevertheless, the nature of information stored in memory varies in terms of its flexibility. Some information needs frequent updates or is easily forgotten shortly after encoding, while other types of information exhibit greater resilience and endurance over extended periods. This study aimed to explore whether the expectation of when a memory would be tested influences its retention over time. Forty-one participants performed a continuous recognition task with unfamiliar American city names, where the color and position of the text indicated whether a word was likely to be encountered again early or late in the trial sequence. Some of these cues were intentionally invalid, allowing us to investigate their impact on memory encoding and retention. Hit rate (HR) analysis revealed a higher HR for early tested items, indicating better memory retention, without any significant modulation by cue type. However, reaction time (RT) analysis showed an effect of cue type, as participants responded slower to early cued items. Test type, however, did not significantly affect RT, and responses were equally fast regardless of whether items were tested early or late. The EZ-diffusion model, combining RT and HR data in a single model, showed that cue type influenced the nondecision time, suggesting differences in the cognitive processes preceding or following the decision-making stage. The study offers insights into the timing aspect of memory control, indicating potential strategic control over memory encoding guided by expectations on when the information is needed. Additional research and incorporation of additional measures may help further to understand the underlying mechanisms and potential applications in enhancing cognitive functions of memory. Keywords: memory, encoding, continuous recognition task, cognitive control, memory cues
| Item Type: | Thesis (Master) |
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| Supervisor name: | Kruijne, W. |
| Degree programme: | Psychology |
| Differentiation route: | Cognitive Psychology and Psychophysiology (CPP) [Master Psychology] |
| Date Deposited: | 28 Jun 2024 10:20 |
| Last Modified: | 28 Jun 2024 10:20 |
| URI: | http://gmwpublic.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/3534 |
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