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Memory Span

The document outlines a memory span experiment designed to measure working memory capacity by having participants recall lists of items. It explains the relationship between memory span and cognitive tasks, noting that memory span typically averages around seven items, with variations based on stimulus characteristics. The experiment involves varying list lengths and types of stimuli, with participants receiving feedback on their performance to determine their maximum memory span.

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18 views2 pages

Memory Span

The document outlines a memory span experiment designed to measure working memory capacity by having participants recall lists of items. It explains the relationship between memory span and cognitive tasks, noting that memory span typically averages around seven items, with variations based on stimulus characteristics. The experiment involves varying list lengths and types of stimuli, with participants receiving feedback on their performance to determine their maximum memory span.

Uploaded by

aksharabhandari85
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Experiment-

Date-

Memory Span

Background

Many theories of cognition propose that there is a short-term or working memory system that
is able to hold a limited amount of information for a short period of time. The memory span
experiment is one measure of working memory capacity. In this experiment, participants are
given a list of items and asked to recall the list. The list length is varied to see at what list
length participants will make few errors. That list length is the memory span for that subject
on that task. Individuals with larger memory spans can better keep in mind different stimuli,
and this seems to give them an advantage for a wide variety of cognitive tasks. Memory span
has been linked to performance on intelligence tests, standardized tests, reading skills,
problem solving, and a variety of other cognitive tasks.

The very existence of short-term memory is largely based on memory span types of
experiments, as it was noted that memory span was approximately seven (plus or minus two)
for a wide variety of stimuli. This suggested a simple storage system that held approximately
seven items. Later studies demonstrated that memory span could be systematically influenced
by a variety of stimulus characteristics. For example, when the stimuli are letters that sound
alike (e.g., d, b, p, t) memory span is shorter. Likewise, memory span is shorter for lists of
long words (e.g., encyclopedia, refrigerator) than for lists of short words (e.g., book, stove).
These findings have suggested that the capacity of short-term memory is controlled by verbal
processes. This experiment allows you to measure your memory span for a variety of
stimulus types.

Instructions

An experiment window will appear, and a smaller window will appear with abbreviated
instructions. Close the instructions window. You can open it again later from the Lab Info.
menu.

Start a trial by clicking the "Next trial" button. On the left of the window, a sequence of items
will appear, with each item presented for one second. After the full sequence has been
presented, the buttons on the right will show labels for item names, including those just
shown. Your task is to click on the buttons just shown in the same order that the items were
presented. After you have finished clicking on all the buttons to recreate the list, click on
"Next trial" to start the next sequence.

The experiment includes five types of stimuli: numbers, letters that sound different, letters
that sound the same, short words, and long words. In each case your task is simply to report
the items you saw, in the order they were presented. Each stimulus type will be presented five
times, with varying list lengths.

List length is varied, for each type of stimuli, in order to find the longest list for which you
can correctly recreate the sequence. Being correct means that you both recall all the items in
the sequence and click on the buttons in the same order the items appeared in the sequence.
Any mistake (recalling too many items, recalling too few items, or recalling items in the
wrong order) counts as Incorrect. There is no way to correct mistakes in button presses, so be
careful in your selections. After clicking on "Next trial", you will be given feedback on your
response to the previous sequence (Correct/Incorrect) before the next sequence is presented.
If you are correct for a given sequence, the next sequence for that stimulus type will be one
item longer. If you are incorrect, the next sequence for that stimulus type will be one item
shorter. In this way, the length of the sequence converges on the longest list length that you
can reliably report back.

At the end of the experiment, the experiment window will close and a new window will
appear that displays your data as a table and a plot (if appropriate) and provides an
explanation of the experiment and results. You can print this information, save it as an html
file, or save it in CogLab format. The latter format can be re-opened with CogLab on a CD
and by your instructor who may want to combine data from students in your class.

Results/ Observations

Memory Span Subject 1 Memory Span Subject 1


Item type Final list length Item type Final list length

Numbers Numbers
Letters that sound Letters that sound
different different
Letters that sound Letters that sound
similar similar
Short words Short words
Long words Long words

The list lengths of the last trial for different types of items. This is an estimate of your
memory span for the different types of stimulus items.
Your memory span for digits, letters that sound different, and short words should be around
seven items. Memory span for letters that sound similar and for long words should be shorter.
The maximum memory span measurable with this experiment is ten, so if you were correct
on the last trial for a stimulus type and your list length was ten, your memory span may
actually be greater.

Conclusion:

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