An understanding Of human memory and its processes and structures is the highest level goal of the proposed research. Investigation is planned in four theoretically related domains: the retrieval of information from long-term memory, the time course of retrieval processes, how retrieval of one piece of information affects retrieval of a related piece of information, and how the processing of information might be biased by earlier processing of similar information.
The specific aims are to investigate current memory models in the light of recent tests of those models' fundamental assumptions, to explore the potential of connectionist models of memory retrieval, to examine both connectionist and more standard models of reaction time phenomena, to test global passive retrieval mechanisms against the spreading activation mechanism, and to generate empirical data amenable to theoretical modeling of implicit memory effects. The proposed research represents the interaction of two methodologies: the development of explicit models of processing and representation and the development of empirical tests and data bases for those models. An important theme is the use of new models to serve as competitors for well established views, and in so doing, drive research in new dictions. The proposed research is relevant to themes described in the NIMH """"""""Decade of the Brain"""""""" report to Congress. The broad class of memory models to be examined can be seen as neurally inspired, and these models have been applied to various pathologies (e.g., amnesia and dyslexia). Future applications of well-validated models could help discriminate such issues as whether memory deficits are due to encoding or retrieval problems or whether rapid automatic processes or slower more conscious ones are faulty. Reaction time models especially might lead to diagnostic techniques that are non-invasive and relatively inexpensive. In general, the more we know about the human cognitive system, the more we can improve and augment traditional diagnostic methods.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01MH044640-10
Application #
2674930
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (SRCM (01))
Project Start
1989-02-01
Project End
1999-07-31
Budget Start
1998-08-01
Budget End
1999-07-31
Support Year
10
Fiscal Year
1998
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Northwestern University at Chicago
Department
Psychology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
City
Evanston
State
IL
Country
United States
Zip Code
60201
Starns, Jeffrey J; White, Corey N; Ratcliff, Roger (2010) A direct test of the differentiation mechanism: REM, BCDMEM, and the strength-based mirror effect in recognition memory. J Mem Lang 63:18-34
Van Zandt, T; Colonius, H; Proctor, R W (2000) A comparison of two response time models applied to perceptual matching. Psychon Bull Rev 7:208-56
Balakrishnan, J D; Ratcliff, R (1996) Testing models of decision making using confidence ratings in classification. J Exp Psychol Hum Percept Perform 22:615-33
McKoon, G; Allbritton, D; Ratcliff, R (1996) Sentential context effects on lexical decisions with a cross-modal instead of an all-visual procedure. J Exp Psychol Learn Mem Cogn 22:1494-7
Allbritton, D W; McKoon, G; Ratcliff, R (1996) Reliability of prosodic cues for resolving syntactic ambiguity. J Exp Psychol Learn Mem Cogn 22:714-35
Ratcliff, R; McKoon, G (1995) Sequential effects in lexical decision: tests of compound-cue retrieval theory. J Exp Psychol Learn Mem Cogn 21:1380-8
Sheu, C F; Ratcliff, R (1995) The application of Fourier deconvolution to reaction time data: a cautionary note. Psychol Bull 118:285-99
Ratcliff, R; McKoon, G; Tindall, M (1994) Empirical generality of data from recognition memory receiver-operating characteristic functions and implications for the global memory models. J Exp Psychol Learn Mem Cogn 20:763-85
Balakrishnan, J D; Ashby, F G (1992) Subitizing: magical numbers or mere superstition? Psychol Res 54:80-90
McKoon, G; Ratcliff, R (1992) Spreading activation versus compound cue accounts of priming: mediated priming revisited. J Exp Psychol Learn Mem Cogn 18:1155-72

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