Influences of Age, Performance, and Item Relatedness on Verbatim and Gist Recall of Verb-Noun Pairs

Abstract

Age differences in adults' memory for performed actions (e.g., wave hand) are sometimes smaller than age differences in memory for nonperformed phrases. In this study, we examined the conditions under which performance reduces age differences in recall. Younger and older adults performed or read verb-noun phrases that were either related (e.g., actions performed in a kitchen) or unrelated. Performance did not reduce age differences in recall of the exact verbs and nouns used to describe an action, but performance did reduce age differences in memory for the gist of related actions. Older adults especially had difficulty recalling the exact verb used to describe the action. These results suggest that older adults may have better memory for actions than is revealed by tests of verbatim recall. They may remember performing the action but not remember the exact words used to describe the action.

Semantic context influences memory for verbs more than memory for nouns

“…First, object nouns, as well as subject nouns, are recalled better than verbs (e.g., Earles et al, 1999). To explain this finding, Earles et al (1999) proposed that the meaning brought to mind by a verb at retrieval is often different from the meaning brought to mind at encoding, making it difficult to recall that one has seen that verb before.…”

“…First, object nouns, as well as subject nouns, are recalled better than verbs (e.g., Earles et al, 1999). To explain this finding, Earles et al (1999) proposed that the meaning brought to mind by a verb at retrieval is often different from the meaning brought to mind at encoding, making it difficult to recall that one has seen that verb before. If this explanation is correct, the better recall of object nouns than of verbs would suggest that the meanings of object nouns, as well as subject nouns, are less subject to contextual influence than are the meanings of verbs.…”

“…Horowitz and Prytulak (1969) and Clark (1966) both found that participants did not recall as many verbs as subject nouns or object nouns from transitive sentences. Earles and Kersten (2000) found that verb pairs were more difficult to recall than noun pairs, and Earles et al (1999) found that verbs from verb-noun pairs (e.g., wave hand) were recalled less often than the nouns from the same pairs. There is also evidence that verbs are not recognized as well as nouns (Reynolds & Flagg, 1976).…”

“…One way to test memory for the actions of objects is to examine memory for verbs. Although there has been relatively little research on memory for verbs, the research that has been conducted has generally revealed that memory for verbs is not as good as memory for nouns (e.g., Earles & Kersten, 2000;Earles, Kersten, Turner, & McMullen, 1999;Engelkamp, Zimmer, & Mohr, 1990;Reynolds & Flagg, 1976). Investigating why verbs are difficult to remember may yield a better understanding of how the human memory system represents actions.…”

Limits on the role of retrieval cues in memory for actions: Enactment effects in the absence of object cues in the environment

“…A number of published reports have shown consistent enactment effects in free recall without any exceptions (e.g., Earles & Kersten, 2000Earles, Kersten, Turner, & McMullen, 1999;Engelkamp, Seiler, & Zimmer, 2004;Engelkamp & Zimmer, 1996Helstrup, 2004;Knopf, 1995a;Koriat & Pearlman-Avnion, 2003;Norris & West, 1993;Ratner & Hill, 1991;von Essen, 2005;Zimmer, 1991;Zimmer, Helstrup, & Engelkamp, 2000). However, other studies have reported at least one exception-that is, one experiment or condition in which no enactment effect in free recall emerged (Brooks & Gardiner, 1994;Daprati, Nico, Saimpont, Franck, & Sirigu, 2005; Engelkamp, Mohr, & Zimmer, 1991;Foley, Bouffard, Raag, & DiSanto Rose, 1991;Helstrup, 1996Helstrup, , 2005Helstrup & Molander, 1996;Knopf, 1995b;Knopf, Mack, Lenel, & Ferrante, 2005;Mohr, Engelkamp, & Zimmer, 1989;Zimmer & Engelkamp, 1985, 1989.…”