| |
Abstract:
Potter and Lombardi (1990) claimed that immediate
sentence recall was based on regeneration of the sentence from a
representation of its meaning, incorporating recently activated
lexical representations. They specifically ruled out a
contribution from an ordered phonological representation like
that used in the recall of random word lists. Their
assertion was based on findings showing that semantically related
lure words (e.g., "castle") replaced target words (e.g.,
"palace") during sentence recall when these lure words were
embedded in memory lists that preceded or followed the
sentence. They argued that such substitutions should not
occur if subjects used a phonological representation as the basis
of recall. However, their results did not rule out the
possibility of some contribution of phonology. Two
experiments were conducted to address this possibility, adopting
Potter and Lombardi's paradigm. Lure words were used that
were either only semantically related (S) to the target words or
both semantically and phonologically related (SP). The S
and SP lures were matched on a number of factors that might
influence their substitution in the sentences. If
phonological information plays a role during sentence repetition,
the intrusion rate with SP words should be higher than with S
words; if only semantic information plays a role, then the
intrusion rates with S words and SP words should be the
same.
Sentences and word lists were presented using
either rapid serial visual presentation (RSVP) or auditory
presentation. In Experiment 1, the word lists preceded the
sentences (MS order), whereas in Experiment 2, the word lists
followed the sentences (SM order). Significantly greater SP
than S intrusions were found in both experiments (Exp.1: 21% vs.
7%; Exp.2: 29% vs. 18%). Combining across lure conditions,
there were more intrusions in the auditory than the visual
modality when the memory lists followed the sentences, but
approximately equal intrusion rates when the lists preceded the
sentences. This latter finding also supports the notion
that phonological representations are involved in immediate
memory for sentences since one would expect greater phonological
interference from auditorily presented memory lists that follow
the sentences. We conclude that phonological
representations, in addition to conceptual and lexical
representations, contribute to immediate sentence recall.
Reference
Potter, M., & Lombardi, L. (1990).
Regeneration in the short-term recall of sentences. Journal
of Memory and Language, 29, 633-654.
|
