I have seen something that is somewhat similar.  In _Memory Observed_, by
Neisser there is an account of a Professor Sanford who wrote a letter to
Titchener about his (Sanford's) memory failure.  He was saying the Morning
Prayer of the Episcopal Church and had done this "at least 5000 times in the
last 25 years, usually at 24-hour intervals, often for many weeks in
succession..."

The Lord's Prayer he knew pretty well, but of the next 4, when testing
himself, he took between 20 and 44 promptings for prayers that were from 73
to 158 words.

I just looked this up in the old edition (1982), there is a newer edition out
now.  I think that the book has several interesting anecdotes.

"Patrick O. Dolan" wrote:

> I'm preparing a lecture on episodic memory and realized that
> in the past I've told a story that I don't know if it is a
> benign anecdote that I picked up from a lecture myself
> somewhere along the way, something I should be giving
> someone credit for, or completely incorrect/baseless story
> that I should drop from my lecture.
>
> The story goes that a priest (most priests?) had/has/have a
> hard time recalling a baptismal prayer despite having
> read/said the prayer many many times, which leads into a
> discussion of rote rehearsal, etc. etc.
>
> Anybody ever hear something similar?  Have a source?
>
> Thanks kindly
>
> Patrick
>
> ************************
> Patrick O. Dolan
> Department of Psychology
> Drew University
> Madison, NJ  07940
> 973-408-3558
> [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> ************************
>
> ---
> You are currently subscribed to tips as: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED]

--
__ Rick Stevens
__ Psychology Department
__ University of Louisiana at Monroe
__ http://www.ulm.edu/~stevens



---
You are currently subscribed to tips as: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED]

Reply via email to