On serial recall: A critique of chaining in the theory of distributed associative memory.

Abstract

Lewandowsky and Murdock (1989) proposed a model for serial recall based on the theory of distriuted associative memory. The authors criticize 3 aspects of the model. First, recall is based, in the model, on a chain of associations. Once an error has been made, the chain is broken. To lengthen the chain, a tacit response (a facsimile vector) is used as a retrieval probe. The authors show that a facsimile vector is not an effective retrieval cue. Second, the model is biased against items at the beginning of a list, and, because of the bias, response alternatives must be limited in an artificial way. Third, the model implies that recognition failure of recallable items is a routine characteristic of memory-span tasks