Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-dsjbd Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-26T22:43:32.801Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Partial matching theory and the memory span

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 October 2001

David J. Murray
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario K7L 3N6, [email protected]

Abstract

Partial matching theory, which maintains that some memory representations of target items in immediate memory are overwritten by others, can predict both a “theoretical” and an “actual” maximum memory span provided no chunking takes place during presentation. The latter is around 4 ± 2 items, the exact number being determined by the degree of similarity between the memory representations of two immediately successive target items.

Type
Brief Report
Copyright
© 2001 Cambridge University Press

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)