Stimulus durations and stimulus characteristics in paired-associates learning.

Acquisition of paired-associates units was investigated as functions of orthogonal combinations of duration of stimulus members alone and of duration of stimulus and response members, and of similarity of stimulus and of response members. Responses recalled correctly were direct functions of durations of stimulus members, durations of stimulus and response members, meaningfulness of stimulus and response members; they were inverse functions of similarity of stimulus and response members. These effects were more potent on the response than on the stimulus side. Meaningfulness and similarity are conceived as acting through stable, discriminable recognition responses to stimulus and response members. Lengthening durations presumably provides greater opportunity for occurrence and rehearsal of such recognition responses. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved)