Pattern coding of spatial order information in short-term memory

Abstract

Three experiments were conducted to extend the finding that, whereas phonemic coding is employed for short-term temporal order recall, coding of temporal-spatial patterns is employed for short-term spatial order recall. In Experiment 1 subjects employed pattern coding for spatial order information even though item information had to be retained as well as spatial order information. In Experiment 2 temporal and spatial order recall were differentially affected by various interpolated tasks; temporal order recall was disrupted by tasks demanding vocalization, whereas spatial order recall was disrupted by tasks demanding processing of spatial information. In Experiment 3 a change in the method of response led subjects to employ pattern coding for temporal order recall without eliminating phonemic coding.