Practicing Precision: Effects of Retrieval Practice on Associative Memory and Spatial Reconstruction

MEMOLAB The Memory Modulation Lab Department of Psychology & Neuroscience Practicing Precision: Effects of Retrieval Practice on Associative Memory and Spatial Reconstruction Valentina Krenz, Kyle A. Kurkela, & Maureen Ritchey [email protected] 4 0 2 6 8 EXPERIMENT 3 Does retrieval practice that engages spatial reconstruction affect spatial precision at delayed test? Preliminary results: Retrieval practice strengthened spatial precision and associative memory at delayed test. Spatial Reconstruction across Repetitions Object-location errors decreased across retrieval-practice repetitions (β = -5.30, t = -2.85, p = .004), suggesting that spatial precision improved with practice. 0 25 50 75 100 123 Spatial Error (°) ×3 Repetitions Retrieval Place object into correct position Feedback ×3 Repetitions Restudy Click on object N = 9 PRACTICING SPATIAL RECONSTRUCTION 1-DAY DELAYED TEST 0 25 50 75 0 2 4 6 8 RT (s) Spatial Error (°) Retrieval practice yielded smaller spatial reconstruction errors than restudy (β = −10.90, t = −2.70, p = .007), indicating improved spatial precision. Spatial Reconstruction Correct (%) 0 25 50 75 100 0 5 10 15 20 RT (s) Retrieval practice improved associative memory performance (β = 1.16, z = 5.58, p < .001)compared to restudy. Object-Scene Matching BACKROUND Actively remembering improves the probability for later recall more than restudying, a phenomenon known as the testing effect1 that has been attributed to retrieval practice strengthening the associative link between a cue and its target memory2,3. Most work examines memory dichotomously (remembered vs. forgotten), leaving the impact of retrieval practice on the qualitative nature of memories largely unknown. Studies examining qualitative outcomes of retrieval-based learning report mixed results, ranging from improved colormemory precision4, to no effects5 or more generalized representations with reduced perceptual detail6,7. How does retrieval practice influence the spatial precision of memory, and are these effects sensitive to the type of practice and the timing of the final test? PARADIGM Indicate how likely the object is to be found in this scene. 1-Likely 2-Unikely + 1-Likely 2-Unikely INITIAL STUDY 60 unique objects 6 unique scenes Retrieval Restudy or PRACTICE Place object into correct position FINAL TEST Object-Scene Matching Spatial Reconstruction Choose matching scene EXPERIMENT 1 Retrieval practice strengthened associative memory but did not improve spatial precision, instead slowing spatial reconstruction at test. Does associative retrieval practice, without practicing spatial details, influence spatial precision at immediate test? IMMEDIATE TEST Retrieval practice yielded slower responses in the spatial reconstruction task (β = 0.61, t = 3.03, p = .002) compared to restudy. Retrieval practice improved associative memory performance (β = 0.55, z = 3.39, p < .001) and yielded faster responses (β = −0.44, t = −2.84, p = .005) compared to restudy. Spatial Error (°) 0 25 50 75 0 2 4 6 8 RT (s) Spatial Reconstruction Object-Scene Matching Correct (%) 0 3 6 9 12 RT (s) 0 25 50 75 100 PRACTICING SCENE MATCHING ×3 Repetitions Retrieval Choose matching scene Feedback ×3 Repetitions Restudy Click on highlighted scene N = 21 The probability of selecting the correct scene increased across retrieval-practice repetitions (β = 0.47, z = 6.07, p < .001), suggesting progressive strengthening of associative memory. Object-Scene Matching across Repetitions 123 0 25 50 75 100 Correct (%) EXPERIMENT 2 How does retrieval practice that engages spatial reconstruction affect spatial precision at immediate test? Retrieval practice led to poorer spatial precision at final test while strengthening associative memory. IMMEDIATE TEST Spatial Error (°) 0 25 50 75 RT (s) Retrieval practice yielded larger spatial reconstruction errors than restudy (β = 3.84, t = 2.36, p = .019), indicating reduced spatial precision. Spatial Reconstruction Object-Scene Matching 0 25 50 75 100 Correct (%) 0 3 6 9 12 RT (s) Retrieval practice improved associative memory performance (β = 1.16, z = 8.30, p < .001) and yielded faster responses (β = −0.61, t = −4.19, p < .001 compared to restudy. PRACTICING SPATIAL RECONSTRUCTION Object-location errors decreased across retrieval-practice repetitions (β = −7.70, t = −7.23, p < .001), suggesting that spatial precision improved with practice. Spatial Reconstruction across Repetitions 0 25 50 75 100 123 Spatial Error (°) N = 26 ×3 Repetitions Retrieval Place object into correct position Feedback ×3 Repetitions Restudy Click on object Across experiments, retrieval practice consistently strengthened associative memory with mixed results on spatial reconstruction. Without practicing spatial details (Exp.1), retrieval practice led to slower reconstruction at final test despite unchanged precision; practicing spatial reconstruction reduced spatial precision at immediate test (Exp. 2), while preliminary results of Exp. 3 indicate benefits in spatial precision one day after initial learning and spatial practice. The findings indicate that repeated spatial reconstruction at practice may initially interfere with spatial precision but facilitate the consolidation and preciseness of spatial memory over time. Retrieval-based effects on spatial specificity may depend on practice modality and test delay, offering a potential explanation for mixed findings in the literature. CONCLUSION REFERENCES Roediger, H. L., & Karpicke, J. D. (2006). Test-Enhanced Learning: Taking Memory Tests Improves Long-Term Retention. Psychological Science, 17(3), 249–255. 1 Carpenter, S. K. (2009). 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