The Interaction Between Strategic Study and Test Effects on Temporal Order Memory

Authors: Stacey Zhu, Michael Dulas

Field of Study: Integrative Neuroscience

Faculty Mentors: Michael Dulas

Easel: 82

Timeslot: Morning

Abstract: Temporal order memory involves remembering the order in which events occurred, requiring active strategic processing during both encoding and retrieval. However, it is unclear whether such strategic effects are unique or interrelated, or whether they distinctly impact temporal vs. item memory. The present study assessed whether stimulus type (concrete, abstract) and strategic retrieval (cued recall, free reconstruction) distinctly or interactively impacted item and temporal memory. Participants studied sequences of concrete or abstract items. After each sequence, participants needed to remember the orientation and temporal position of each item, either via cued recall or free reconstruction of the timeline. Both variables affected memory for orientation and temporal position, but these factors did not interact for either measure. This indicates that strategic processing plays distinct, critical roles at both encoding and retrieval. Thus, strategic processing deficits, such as in healthy aging, may impact temporal order memory at multiple points in unique ways.