The Relationship Between Repetition Priming and Skill Acquisition

Abstract

This research investigated the existence and generalizability of individual differences in the implicit memory phenomena of repetition priming (i.e., performance facilitation on repeated cognitive processing events that does not depend on conscious recollection of the relevant prior events). In particular, the research estimated the relationship between individual differences in repetition priming and differences in cognitive skill acquisition. Three hundred and five Air Force enlisted personnel performed nine computerized cognitive tasks designed to measure repetition priming, event recognition (an explicit memory measure), and skill acquisition in the verbal, quantitative, and spatial processing domains. Individual differences in repetition priming were consistent across differing trial contents within each processing domain. These differences generalized across processing domains to a lesser extent. Contrary to expectations from current theory, priming and event recognition were correlated, especially within processing domain. Finally, consistent with the notion that repetition priming and skill acquisition reflect shared memory mechanisms, individual differences in priming uniquely predicted differences in skill acquisition. Cognition, Individual differences, memory, implicit memory, skill acquisition, Learning.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 1993
Accession Number
ADA260974

Entities

People

  • Dan J. Woltz

Organizations

  • University of Utah

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Human Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Accuracy
  • Acquisition
  • Air Force
  • Alzheimer Disease
  • Basic Training
  • Biological Sciences
  • Classification
  • Cognition
  • Computers
  • Diseases And Disorders
  • Identification
  • Information Processing
  • Psychology
  • Reasoning
  • Recognition
  • Scientific Research
  • Universities

Fields of Study

  • Biology
  • Psychology

Readers

  • Brain and Cognitive Science; Experimental Psychology; Cognitive Neuroscience
  • Team-Based Human-Centered Cognitive Task Decision Making and Information Performance.