Serial position effects for tonal stimuli

Abstract

Serial position effects for tones were studied in a recognition memory experiment The S was given a stimulus list consisting of several tone bursts followed by a number of test tones. Accuracy of recognition of stimulus items as a function of input position followed the classical bowed serial position curve. Memory strength was a monotonically decreasing function of position in the test list. The data were fitted with a strength theory model of memory. The fit yielded decay parameters corresponding to stimulus- and response-induced interference, which were comparable to the parameters reported for meaningful verbal material.