Reaction Time and Short-term Memory: Implications of Repetition Effects for the High-speed Exhaustive Scan Hypothesis

Abstract

Recognition memory for sub-span digit sequences was investigated using Stern-berg's varied-set RT technique. Two experiments studied memory for sequences containing repetitions (e.g. 9 1 9 3) and observed faster recognition of repeated items. Experiment I also showed serial position effects with faster responding to more recent items. Neither of these effects is predicted by Sternberg's highspeed exhaustive scanning hypothesis. Several alternative hypotheses are considered, including two models based on the concept of trace strength, which appear to merit further investigation.