Decomposing the memory processes contributing to enactment effects by multinomial modelling

• Published in: European journal of cognitive psychology Vol. 21; no. 1; pp. 61 - 83
• Main Authors: Steffens, Melanie C., Jelenec, Petra, Mecklenbräuker, Silvia
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Colchester Taylor & Francis Group 01.02.2009; Psychology Press
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Human; Learning. Memory; Memory; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Human; Mental imagery; Action; Verbal learning; Acquisition process; Language; Memory; Cognition; Experimental study; Sentence
• ISSN: 0954-1446; 1464-0635
• DOI: 10.1080/09541440701868668

Typically, symbolic enactment increases memory for verb-object phrases. When investigating which processes constitute this enactment effect, a difficulty is that observable effects in standard memory tests are ambiguous. The present work presents a multinomial model that decomposes memory performance into (a) a retrieval parameter, (b) a parameter for integration of a verb-object phrase, and (c) one for item-specific processing. We tested whether enactment strengthens the item-specific processing of the object in addition to that of the verb, and whether enactment strengthens the integration of verbs and objects on top of item-specific processing. Memory after enactment was compared to that after verbal learning and after imagery. Our findings show that, indeed, all three processes are increased after enactment as compared to verbal learning. In addition, retrieval is hindered by enactment.