Capacity limits in list item recognition: Evidence from proactive interference

Abstract

Capacity limits in short‐term recall were investigated using proactive interference (PI) from previous lists in a speeded‐recognition task. PI was taken to indicate that the target list length surpassed working memory capacity. Unlike previous studies, words were presented either concurrently or sequentially and a new method was introduced to increase the amount of PI. On average, participants retrieved about four items without PI. We suggest an activation‐based account of capacity limits.

Notes

Correspondence should be addressed to Nelson Cowan, Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Missouri, 210 McAlester Hall, Columbia, MO 65211, USA. Email: [email protected]

This research was supported by NIH Grant HD‐21338. We thank Klaus Oberauer, Jeff Rouder, and reviewers for comments.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

J. Scott Saults

Correspondence should be addressed to Nelson Cowan, Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Missouri, 210 McAlester Hall, Columbia, MO 65211, USA. Email: [email protected] This research was supported by NIH Grant HD‐21338. We thank Klaus Oberauer, Jeff Rouder, and reviewers for comments.