Superior Memory

by Valentine,Elizabeth

• ISBN13: 9780863774560
• ISBN10: 0863774563
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1997-09-01
• Publisher: Psychology Pres

Summary

This book examines the nature and causal antecedents of superior memory performance. The main theme is that such performance may depend on either specific memory techniques or natural superiority in the efficiency of one or more memory processes. Chapter 2 surveys current views about the structure of memory and discusses whether common processes can be identified which might underlie general variation in memory ability, or whether distinct memory subsystems exist, the efficiency of which varies independently of each other. Chapter 3 provides a comprehensive survey of existing evidence on superior memory performance. It examines techniques which underlie many examples of unusual memory performance, and concludes that not all this evidence is explicable in terms of such techniques. Relations between memory ability and other cognitive processes are also discussed. The remainder of the book describes the authors' own studies of a dozen memory experts, employing a wide variety of short- andlong-term memory tasks. These studies provide a much larger body of data than previously available from studies of single individuals, usually restricted to a narrow range of tasks and rarely involving any systematic study of long-term retention. The authors argue that in some cases unusual memory ability is not dependent on the use of special techniques. They develop some objective criteria for distinguishing between subjects who demonstrate "natural" superiority and those "strategists" who depend on techniques. Natural superiority was characterized by superior performance on a wider range of tasks and better long-term retention. The existence of a general memory ability was further supported by a factor analysis of data from all subjects, omitting those who described highly-practiced techniques. This analysis also demonstrated the independence of initial encoding and retention processes. The monograph raises many interesting questions concerning the existence and nature of individualdifferences in memory ability (a previously neglected topic), their relation to other cognitive processes and implications for theories concerning the structure of memory.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements	vii
1. What is Superior Memory?	1	(8)
Feats of Memory	1	(5)
Varieties of Memory--Natural and Acquired	6	(1)
Objectives of This Monograph	7	(2)
2. Previous Studies of Superior Memory	9	(46)
Early Studies	9	(12)
Later Studies	21	(33)
Conclusions	54	(1)
3. The Nature and Nurture of Memory	55	(30)
Training or Talent?	55	(6)
Memory--One System or Many?	61	(12)
Relations between Memory and Other Psychological Constructs	73	(12)
4. The Search for Superior Memories: Is Anyone Out There?	85	(32)
The Tasks	87	(8)
The Control Group	95	(3)
First Study: 10 Subjects Claiming Superior Memory Ability	98	(3)
Two Unusual Individuals	101	(13)
Overview	114	(3)
5. Memory Champions	117	(26)
The Subjects	119	(2)
Results	121	(12)
Discussion	133	(3)
Strategists vs. Naturals	136	(5)
Conclusions	141	(2)
6. General Memory Ability and Forgetting--Evidence from the Group Data	143	(8)
Factor Analysis	146	(3)
Conclusions	149	(2)
7. Conclusions	151	(12)
Specificity of Superior Memory and Reasons for such Specificity	151	(4)
General Features of Good Techniques	155	(1)
General Natural Memory Ability	155	(3)
Conclusions on Specific and General Memory Ability	158	(1)
Memory Ability of Close Relatives and Early Awareness of Superior Memory Ability	159	(1)
Relations between Autobiographical Memory and Memory Ability in Laboratory Tasks	159	(1)
Memory and Intelligence	159	(1)
Memory and Imagery	160	(1)
Final Thoughts	161	(2)
References	163	(9)
Appendix	172	(1)
Author Index	173	(4)
Subject Index	177