Return to search

Reinterpreting selective impairments in memory: computational and empirical simulations of dissociations in amnesia

By a dominant account, memory is composed of multiple storage systems, each operating according to unique principles. By an alternative account, memory is a single storage system and operates according to a single set of principles. Selective memory impairments in amnesia serve as the primary evidence for the multiple-system perspective. This thesis reports a critical appraisal of the multiple-system perspective using a combination of computational and empirical methods. In the computational analysis, I adopt the Holographic Exemplar Model, a single-system model of memory based on Hintzman’s (1986) classic MINERVA2 model. I simulate amnesia by manipulating the quality with which items are encoded in memory. In the empirical analysis, I simulate amnesia by manipulating peoples’ quality of encoding by limiting the time given to study stimuli. Simulations 1-2 and Experiments 1-2 simulate a dissociation between classification and recognition. All four analyses are consistent with the original results. Simulation 3 and Experiment 3 simulate single and double dissociations between tachistoscopic identification and recognition. The analyses were consistent with the single but not double dissociation. Simulation 4 and Experiment 4 simulate a dissociation among word-stem completion, cued recall, and recognition. Both analyses were only partially consistent with the original results, representing a failure overall. Simulation 5 and Experiment 5 derived a novel prediction from artificial grammar learning, predicting a non-dissociation between string completion and recognition. The mixed results provide some support for a single-system account of memory and opens opportunities for future work. I argue that the analysis is best considered in convergence with previous work moving toward a more integrated account of memory / February 2017

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:MANITOBA/oai:mspace.lib.umanitoba.ca:1993/32111
Date07 February 2017
CreatorsCurtis, Evan
ContributorsJamieson, Randall (Psychology), Mondor, Todd (Psychology) Jakobson, Lorna (Psychology) Bruce, Neil (Computer Science) Masson, Michael (University of Victoria)
Source SetsUniversity of Manitoba Canada
Detected LanguageEnglish

Page generated in 0.002 seconds