ORCID
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4392-8573
Date of Award
Summer 8-15-2024
Degree Name
Master of Arts (AM/MA)
Degree Type
Thesis
Abstract
Associative inference allows us to make novel associations based on prior experiences, guiding future behavior. While previous studies have used narratives or mental imagery to aid memory, the specific role of narratives in this process remains unclear. This study investigates the role of narratives in enhancing associative inference and their potential trade-offs with item-level memory specificity. Across two experiments, participants learned object pairs using narrative or perceptual descriptions, with or without active linking. Experiment 1 found that narratives combined with active linking improved associative inference. Experiment 2, incorporating a mnemonic similarity task, revealed that while narratives enhanced memory integration, they impaired object recognition and discrimination. These results suggest that narratives strengthen connections between memory items at the cost of detailed item-specific encoding.
Language
English (en)
Chair and Committee
Zachariah M. Reagh
Committee Members
Ian Dobbins, Jeffrey M. Zacks
Recommended Citation
Tang, Shuran, "Self-Generated Narratives Enhance Associative Inference at the Cost of Memory Specificity" (2024). Arts & Sciences Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 3332.
https://openscholarship.wustl.edu/art_sci_etds/3332
Included in
Cognitive Psychology Commons, Cognitive Science Commons, Experimental Analysis of Behavior Commons