Short-Term Retention of Temporal Information under a Mental Counting Cognitive Strategy

Abstract

The main purpose was to determine the short-term retention characteristics of temporal information when subjects experienced time under a time-aiding technique for time estimation, i.e., subjects were instructed to use a mental-counting cognitive strategy. Visual durations of 1 and 4 sec. were estimated by 12 subjects under the method of reproduction. Six levels of retention interval were used, viz., immediate reproduction, self-paced reproduction, 15 sec. of rest, 30 sec. of rest, 15 and 30 sec. of interpolated activity, i.e., counting backwards by threes. The variable error was used to evaluate effects of forgetting. When subjects hold durations of 1 and 4 sec. in memory for a period of 15 or 30 sec. with or without interpolated activity, they become more variable than if they recall the item immediately or at their own pace. The constant error was used as an index of bias. Subjects overestimated the 1 sec. and underestimated the 4 sec. durations. The results were compared with a prior study done under a conscious cognitive strategy for time estimation, i.e., subjects were instructed to refrain from employing time-aiding techniques.