Susan, Your recollection is correct. In addition, the practice produced a new encoding strategy. He identified sequences that correponded to various sports statistics (running times, scores, etc.), which he could employ during encoding because the presentation of the digits was self-paced. This eventually became the basis for the notion of long-term working memory. Basically, he developed expertise in encoding random strings of numbers by making them non-random and storing these larger chunks in LTM. Still an impressive feat to acquire this unique (if useless and ungeneralizable) memory skill. It does proved evidence for the notion that memory encoding for specific information is a skill than can be improved.
Neisser's book (Memory Observed) also includes a chapter (Professor Sanford's Morning Prayer) about a man who read the same prayer aloud every day (from text, not memory). After 5,000 days, he was unable to recite the prayer from memory. Baddeley discusses the ineffectiveness of repetition as a memory encoding strategy in his text. In the early 1980s, he and a colleague studied the effect of a radio advertising campaign that informed the public about impending changes in the BBC radio settings. The ads appeared frequently over 2 months. They estimated listeners in their sample heard these ads over 1000 times. Although subjects knew the change was impending, they were unable to recall any of the new radio frequencies or locate them visually on a radio dial. As I recall the 10,000 pictures article, the point was not that this was a great memory encoding feat on the part of a single individual. Instead, it made a case that pictures are encoded (and forgotten) differently than words. Claudia J. Stanny, Ph.D. Director Center for University Teaching, Learning, and Assessment Associate Professor School of Psychological and Behavioral Sciences University of West Florida 11000 University Parkway Pensacola, FL 32514 – 5751 Phone: (850) 857-6355 or 473-7435 [email protected] CUTLA Web Site: http://uwf.edu/cutla/ Personal Web Pages: http://uwf.edu/cstanny/website/index.htm On Mon, Jan 3, 2011 at 9:10 AM, Shapiro, Susan J <[email protected]>wrote: > " Ericsson et al back in > 1980 published a study of an "ordinary" (my term) college student > induced to practice his memory span. This is the ability to > immediately repeat a sequence of numbers. His subject practiced for > about an hour a day, 3-5 days a week, for 1 1/2 years. > At the start his memory span was an unexceptional 7 digits. At the > end it was 79. (!)" > > If I remember correctly - this practice did not generalize to a better > memory in other areas (I may be remembering a different study.) He just got > REALLY GOOD at remembering lists of numbers. > > Suzi > Susan J Shapiro PhD > Associate Professor/Psychology > Indiana University East > 2325 Chester Blvd > Richmond IN 47374 > (765) 973-8284 > [email protected] > > > > > --- > You are currently subscribed to tips as: [email protected]. > To unsubscribe click here: > http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13144.1572ed60024e708cf21c4c6f19e7d550&n=T&l=tips&o=7623 > or send a blank email to > leave-7623-13144.1572ed60024e708cf21c4c6f19e7d...@fsulist.frostburg.edu > --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [email protected]. To unsubscribe click here: http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df5d5&n=T&l=tips&o=7626 or send a blank email to leave-7626-13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df...@fsulist.frostburg.edu
