Simulation of Human Memory

模拟人类记忆

• 批准号: 8711218
• 负责人: Douglas Hintzman
• 金额: $ 15.6万
• 依托单位: University of Oregon Eugene
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 1987
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 1987-08-15 至 1991-01-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=8711218&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Simulation; Human; Memory

Previous NSF-supported research by Hintzman has shown that a simple theory of human memory, based on a few core assumptions, can account for a surprising number of empirical phenomena uncovered in experiments on human learning and memory. The basic assumptions of the theory have been formalized in computer programs, which have been tested on learning and memory tasks analogous to those given to humans participanting in experiments. Such simulation work is a valuable aid in the development of theories of cognition, particularly theories involving factors such as parallel processing and variability, whose consequences are difficult to anticipate intuitively. The basic assumptions of the Hintzman simulation model, for example, concern processes underlying the operation of just two fundamental variables, repetition and similarity. However, the model accounts for several phenomena that previously had been thought to be unique, and to require their own ad hoc explanations. The research will consist of three types of activity: (a) The simulation model will be expanded in two ways. First, the present model, which has so far been applied primarily to memory for distinct events and the learning of abstract categories, will be applied to the domains of associative learning and recall. Second, different versions of the model will be developed to handle problems for which the present model is inadequate. These include retrieval of the meaning of a word from memory, and the facilitative effect of prior familiarity on learning. (b) Several experiments will test new predictions made by the model concerning the learning of abstract categories, the effects of repetition and similarity on recognition of previously encountered items, and memory retrieval latencies. (c) Comparisons will be made between the present memory model and other models in the literature. Interest will focus primarily on determining whether a simple model of the "connectionist" type exists whose behavior is essentially the same as that of the current model. This is important because an advantage claimed for connectionist models by some is that they are anatomically or physiologically plausible. The theory has broad implications for learning, memory, and cognitive processes. As such, it could yield practical insights in the fields of education and training, memory improvement, treatment of memory defects, and the reliability of judgments based on memory.

欣茨曼之前在国家科学基金会的支持下进行的研究表明，基于几个核心假设的简单人类记忆理论，可以解释在人类学习和记忆实验中发现的数量惊人的经验现象。该理论的基本假设已经在计算机程序中形式化，这些程序已经在学习和记忆任务中进行了测试，类似于人类参与实验的任务。这样的模拟工作对认知理论的发展，特别是涉及诸如并行处理和可变性等因素的理论，是一个有价值的辅助，其结果很难直观地预测。例如，Hintzman模拟模型的基本假设只涉及两个基本变量的操作过程，即重复和相似性。然而，该模型解释了一些以前被认为是独特的现象，需要他们自己的特别解释。这项研究将包括三种类型的活动：(a)模拟模式将以两种方式扩大。首先，目前的模型，迄今为止主要应用于不同事件的记忆和抽象类别的学习，将应用于联想学习和回忆领域。其次，将开发不同版本的模型来处理当前模型无法解决的问题。这包括从记忆中检索单词的含义，以及先前熟悉对学习的促进作用。(b)若干实验将检验该模型所作的关于学习抽象类别、重复和相似对认识以前遇到的项目的影响和记忆检索延迟的新预测。(c)将比较目前的记忆模型和文献中的其他模型。兴趣将主要集中在确定是否存在一个行为与当前模型本质上相同的“连接主义”类型的简单模型。这一点很重要，因为一些人声称连接主义模型的一个优势是，它们在解剖学或生理学上是合理的。该理论对学习、记忆和认知过程有着广泛的影响。因此，它可以在教育和培训、记忆改善、记忆缺陷的治疗以及基于记忆的判断的可靠性等领域产生实用的见解。