Memory Interference
Previous research in our lab has demonstrated that encoding more that one standard duration in a temporal generalisation task can lead to poorer task performance (Jones and Wearden, 2004). Poorer task performance may have occurred due to increased memory load, and/or systematic interference caused by the second standard. Currently research is being conducted to further assess the effects of encoding more than one standard duration in temporal generalisation tasks.
To investigate the effects of interference, the lengths of the two standard durations are manipulated to see if the length of the second standard systematically influences the recall of the first standard. Three different conditions are employed;
1. First standard is 400ms longer than the second standard,
2. Two standards are the same duration,
3. Second standard is 400ms longer than the first standard.
A modified temporal generalisation paradigm was used in which the first standard was presented and tested, and then the second standard was presented and tested. Finally the first standard was retested without being represented. On some of the trials a delay of 30 was also imposed between the testing of the second standard B and the retesting of the first standard.
