Presents experiments which compare two theories of memory for routine events, one emphasizing temporal sequence of events, the other focusing on events' hierarchical structure or centrality. Findings suggest that sequence and centrality information may be computed as needed, rather than precompiled. (Author/BK)

Reviews and synthesizes, within the broad framework of comparative cognition, several approaches to the study of human memory, including ontogenetic, cultural/sociohistorical, and clinical research. Asserts that future research on comparative memory development must focus on the flexible and adaptive use of memory skills to meet purposes…

Argues that the distinction between short-term memory and long-term memory is no longer adequate for either human or animal memory data. Recommends additional research on the physiological brain processes underlying memory interference and retrieval. (MP)

Early and late formal-operational adolescents having similar ages and IQs were presented tasks to assess their use of organizational memory strategies: multitrial free recall of unrelated and categorized words and a sorting task followed by free recall of the sorted words. (Author/SS)

Results of three studies suggest that, to notice inconsistencies in prose, children have to encode and store information, draw relevant inferences, retrieve and maintain inferred propositions in working memory, and compare them. Third through sixth graders do not spontaneously carry out those processes that they are capable of carrying out. (JMB)

Decisions about whether pairs of letter strings are both words or not are faster for semantically related words than unrelated words. Two experiments showed the semantic relatedness effect is greatly reduced when orthographically illegal, unpronounceable strings were used as negative items. Lexical decisions involve options on codes representing…

Two studies explored the following two issues important in understanding the development of knowledge-based inferencing: (1) how children of different ages use a circumscribed and available knowledge base to make two types of inferences important for comprehension; and (2) how the accessibility of an available knowledge base is related to…

In a study of developmental differences in ability to suppress irrelevant information in working memory, children and adults provided endings for sentences that constrained a terminal noun. Responses to critical sentences were disconfirmed with unexpected endings. On another sentence-completion task with disconfirmed nouns, children showed priming…

Tested 133 college students in Germany with new tasks and 6 working memory marker tasks. Results reveal three working memory functions: simultaneous storage and processing; supervision; and coordination of elements into structures. Each function could be subdivided into distinct components of variance. (SLD)

George A. Miller's essay gives a clear account of information theory and demonstrates how the concept of limited channel capacity can be applied across sensory dimensions. Its major influence has been demonstrating that immediate memory span is relatively insensitive to the amount of information per item. (SLD)

Three experiments involving children and adults investigated age differences in repetition priming effects as contrasted with explicit recall and recognition. Findings showed that recall increased with age, but priming effects did not differ with age. Results suggest that implicit memory is insensitive to age differences and to encoding and delay…

Draws on architecture and operation of human memory to better specify self-concept form and functioning. Translates these major components and processes of memory system into practice implications for targets and methods of change: declarative knowledge versus procedural knowledge, storage memory versus working memory, and role of sensory…

Alcohol abuse is linked strongly with neuropsychological deficits that may resemble deficits seen in head-injured individuals. Heavy daily drinking appears more damaging than episodic abusive consumption. Cognitive deficits associated with alcohol include abstraction, perceptuospatial, and problem-solving skills. For alcoholics younger than 40,…