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This thesis investigates source memory for performed and observed actions in recall and recognition tasks. The motor simulation account predicts that motor activation during action observation results in source misattributions of observed actions as self-performed. Alternatively, source judgements at test may be based on the evaluation of source features (source monitoring framework) or memory strength (relative strength account). Experiments 1, 2 and 3 in Chapter 2 test if the motor simulation account explains false memories of self-performance after observation. Interfering with participants’ ability to encode the motor trace during observation does not reduce participants’ propensity to falsely recall observed actions as performed, but increases it. Experiment 4 in Chapter 3 manipulates motor and visual interference at retrieval. Participants’ false recognition of observed actions as performed and performed actions as observed is not significantly affected by motor or visual interference. Experiments 5, 6 and 7 in Chapter 4 test if participants are better able to discriminate performed and observed actions if they generate the idea for the action they perform themselves. Participants’ source discrimination in a recall task improves if they generate the ideas for self-performed actions (Experiment 5 and 6), only if they do not also generate ideas for actions they observe (Experiment 7). Experiment 8 in Chapter 5 manipulates participants’ visual perspective of actions they observe. There is no evidence for a significant effect of visual perspective during observation on subsequent false memories of self-performance in a recognition paradigm. In my thesis I find no substantial support for a motor simulation account. While the results are broadly compatible with the source monitoring framework, model-based analyses show that participants’ performance may be based on items’ overall strength, in line with the relative strength account, rather than evaluation of source features.

This thesis mainly intends to study and reach some conclusions related to major challenges concerning vocabulary teaching or learning, how vocabulary teaching can be improved, findings obtained from the studies in order to reach that purpose and to what extend the suggested alternative vocabulary techniques are effective. It is also aimed to outline the basic insights of the mind, storage, and retrieval from the literature involving linguistics and language teaching. Based on above mentioned background knowledge, it is also intended to derive some significant conclusions to improve the effectiveness and thus the quality of vocabulary teaching in language instruction. In accordance with the principles of the human memory, how we can alter current vocabulary instruction techniques and activities and what scholars offer language teachers and learners are dealt with in detail. So as to validate and prove the efficiency of suggested techniques and activities, a case study is carried out and findings are discussed at large. Additionally, interviews about vocabulary teaching have been carried out with the involved students and instructors and the obtained data has been evaluated. In the final part of the research, some implications and suggestion related to vocabulary teaching are provided along with the underlying rationale behind them aiming to increase the quality of teaching of lexical items and as a result to increase overall quality of language instruction.

No / There is clear evidence of a deficit in episodic memory for older adults compared to younger adults. Using an intertrial technique previous research has investigated whether this deficit can be attributed to a decline in encoding or consolidation. On standard memory tests, these two aspects of memory function can be measured by examining the items forgotten or acquired across multiple learning trials. The present study assessed whether age deficits in episodic memory were affected by stimulus characteristics, specifically age of acquisition (AoA). A standard intertrial design was implemented whereby participants studied word lists over several study-test trials. The stimulus characteristics of AoA were manipulated using a pure-list technique. Our findings showed that older adults demonstrate an overall recall deficit which appeared to be a consequence of both an encoding deficit and consolidation weakness. Earlier-acquired words were recalled significantly better than later-acquired words and this was apparently due to both enhanced encoding and consolidation of earlier- over later-acquired words. The key finding is that older adults show a recall advantage for earlier- compared to later-acquired words over the entire experiment to a greater degree than younger adults.

Submitted by Viviane Lima da Cunha (viviane@biblioteca.ufpb.br) on 2016-01-25T15:20:09Z No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivototal.pdf: 1612344 bytes, checksum: f0cfaa677e2c9ebbc56a8c6814476d5f (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-01-25T15:20:09Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivototal.pdf: 1612344 bytes, checksum: f0cfaa677e2c9ebbc56a8c6814476d5f (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-04-27 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / The ratings used for the memory studies may vary from the nature of the encoding of stimuli, as to the time when the information remains stored for later retrieval and as the form of engaged learning. Thus, studies that evaluate the coded memory through active manipulation of objects, the haptic memory, are scarce, in particular the assessment of long-term oblivion rates. In the healthy aging process subsystems memory have different significant decline in its components. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the real objects oblivion rates and family processed in the haptic and visual modality in two time slots to recall memories and recognition in a sample of 104 elderly people, of both sexes, without commitment cognitive. For this, a wooden box and a turntable for the presentation of haptic and visual stimuli, respectively were used. The procedure consisted of two phases, one phase of study (stimulus presentation) and another test (recall or recognition tasks), at intervals of 1 hour or 1 day. The Mann-Whitney test for independent samples showed significant differences in the recall task only at 1 day interval, with a superior visual recall of information (U = 55.50, p = 0.029, r =-0,60). In the assessment of the accuracy of recognition revealed that only 1 day interval was no significant difference, however, by superior to haptic condition (U = 55.50, p = 0.029, r =-0,55). In summary, the results show that for different memory tasks evaluation condition influences the forgetting rates over time. So it is necessary that new designs, with the addition of more extended periods of time, may bring further clarification. / As classificações utilizadas para os estudos da memória podem variar em relação a natureza da codificação dos estímulos, quanto ao tempo em que as informações permanecem armazenadas para posterior evocação e quanto a forma de aprendizado envolvida. Dessa forma, os estudos que avaliam a memória codificada através manipulação ativa dos objetos, a memória háptica, são escassos, em especial a avaliação das taxas de esquecimento a longo prazo. No processo de envelhecimento saudável os subsistemas da memória apresentam declínio significativo diferenciado em seus componentes. Diante disso, a presente pesquisa teve por objetivo avaliar as taxas de esquecimento de objetos reais e familiares processadas na modalidade háptica e visual em dois intervalos de tempo para memórias de recordação e reconhecimento em uma amostra de 104 idosos, de ambos os sexos, sem comprometimento cognitivo. Para isso, foi utilizada uma caixa de madeira e uma plataforma giratória para a apresentação dos estímulos hápticos e visuais, respectivamente. O procedimento consistiu em duas fases, uma fase de estudo (apresentação dos estímulos) e outra de teste (tarefas de recordação ou reconhecimento), realizada após os intervalos de 1 hora ou 1 dia. Foram encontradas diferenças significativas na tarefa de recordação apenas no intervalo de 1 dia, com uma superioridade na recordação visual das informações (U=55,50, p=0,029, r=-0,60). E na avaliação da acurácia do reconhecimento revelou que apenas no intervalo de 1 dia houve diferenças significativas, no entanto, com superioridade para a condição háptica (U=55,50, p=0,029, r=-0,55). Em resumo, os resultados mostram que para as diferentes tarefas de avaliação da memória a condição influencia nas taxas de esquecimento ao longo do tempo. Assim é necessário que novos delineamentos, com o acréscimo de intervalos de tempo mais prolongados, possam trazem maiores esclarecimentos.