Abstract
A robust finding in humans and animals is that intermixed exposure to 2 similar stimuli (AX/BX) results in better discriminability of those stimuli on test than does exposure to 2 equally similar stimuli in 2 separate blocks (CX_DX)--the intermixed-blocked effect. This intermixed-blocked effect may be an example of the superiority of spaced over massed practice; in the intermixed, but not the blocked exposure regime, each presentation of a given stimulus (e.g., AX) is separated from the next by the presentation of its partner (BX). Two experiments with human participants replicated the intermixed-blocked effect and showed that the effect was not due to the spacing of exposure trials. A mechanism for the intermixed-blocked effect is proposed, which combines theories from associative learning and memory.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 237-242 |
Number of pages | 0 |
Journal | J Exp Psychol Learn Mem Cogn |
Volume | 34 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Jan 2008 |
Keywords
- Attention
- Color Perception
- Discrimination Learning
- Field Dependence-Independence
- Humans
- Memory
- Short-Term
- Mental Recall
- Pattern Recognition
- Visual
- Practice
- Psychological
- Psychophysics