| Popis: |
Current research in serial pattern learning suggests parallel processing in acquisition and retention of structured serial patterns but the effects of interference and spaced practice had not yet been assessed. Interference impairs acquisition and retention of serial pattern elements, while spacing practice improves acquisition. Previous work has demonstrated that structured elements and elements that violate structure are learned concurrently through different mechanisms. While data suggest that the presence of a violation element does not interfere with acquisition of structured elements, little work has been done to evaluate how a violation element affects retention of structured elements. In order to assess the effects of interference on retention, rats were trained to criterion on one of two serial patterns: a pattern that contained two types of structured elements (chunk-boundary and within-chunk elements) or a pattern that contained structured elements with an added violation element. Rats were then tested for retention of both structured elements at 24-hour, 2-, 4-week retention intervals. The presence of the violation element impaired retention of chunk-boundary elements without affecting retention of within-chunk elements. A third experiment assessed how spacing practice over longer periods of time affected acquisition of the violation element in male and female rats. Spaced practice improved acquisition of the violation element relative to massed practice in only female rats. These studies demonstrated that acquisition, while resistant to interference, is improved by spaced training. Additionally, Experiments 1 and 2 found that retention for different types of elements are differentially susceptible to interference. The present studies provide further support for parallel processing in serial pattern learning and that separate processes are differentially impacted by interference and spaced practice. |
