This proposal explores several fundamental issues concerning memory storage and retrieval. The primary goal is the development of a theory capable of quantitative predictions of the major phenomena in the field and the results from proposed studies in three main research areas: 1) The representation of information in memory. Is memory storage composite, as in many neural net and connectionist models, or separate, as traditionally assumed in the investigator's theory known as SAM (or Search of Associate Memory)? How are different levels of information represented together, such as features, words and sentences? 2) The role of context in storage and retrieval. When does it change during storage, and how is it chosen at test? To what degree does context change underlie forgetting? 3) The time course of retrieval and response times. What factors affect retrieval time? What model explains the time to respond? How are response times related in recognition, cued recall, and free recall? How can accuracy and response time data be modeled together? The investigator hopes to create a general model capable of predicting such phenomena.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Type
Method to Extend Research in Time (MERIT) Award (R37)
Project #
5R37MH012717-30
Application #
2674597
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (NSS)
Project Start
1977-05-01
Project End
2001-04-30
Budget Start
1998-05-01
Budget End
1999-04-30
Support Year
30
Fiscal Year
1998
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Indiana University Bloomington
Department
Psychology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
006046700
City
Bloomington
State
IN
Country
United States
Zip Code
47401
Mueller, Shane T; Weidemann, Christoph T (2012) Alphabetic letter identification: effects of perceivability, similarity, and bias. Acta Psychol (Amst) 139:19-37