Performance feedback enhances test-potentiated encoding
IntroductionLong-term memory retention is enhanced after testing compared to restudying (testing effect). Notably, memory retrieval further improves when correct-answer feedback is provided after the retrieval attempt (test-potentiated encoding–TPE).MethodsTo evaluate whether explicit positive or ne...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-04-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnbeh.2023.1100497/full |
| _version_ | 1797843581575102464 |
|---|---|
| author | Petra Ludowicy Petra Ludowicy Pedro M. Paz-Alonso Pedro M. Paz-Alonso Thomas Lachmann Thomas Lachmann Thomas Lachmann Daniela Czernochowski |
| author_facet | Petra Ludowicy Petra Ludowicy Pedro M. Paz-Alonso Pedro M. Paz-Alonso Thomas Lachmann Thomas Lachmann Thomas Lachmann Daniela Czernochowski |
| author_sort | Petra Ludowicy |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionLong-term memory retention is enhanced after testing compared to restudying (testing effect). Notably, memory retrieval further improves when correct-answer feedback is provided after the retrieval attempt (test-potentiated encoding–TPE).MethodsTo evaluate whether explicit positive or negative feedback further enhances memory performance beyond the effect of TPE, in two experiments additional explicit positive or negative performance-contingent feedback was presented before providing correct-answer feedback. After an initial exposure to the full material, 40 participants learned 210 weakly associated cue-target word pairs by either restudying or testing (Experiment 1). Depending on the accuracy of the retrieval attempt, the tested word pairs were followed by positive or negative performance feedback (50%) or no feedback (50%). Irrespective of the type of repetition, trials were followed by a restudy opportunity. Participants returned to perform a final cued-recall test (Day 2).ResultsFinal test results replicated the testing effect (better memory performance for tested compared to restudied items). Explicit performance feedback in addition to correct-answer feedback increased retrieval performance, but only on Day 2. This pattern of results was replicated in Experiment 2 in an independent sample of 25 participants. To assess the specific effects of learning history, we also examined retrieval accuracy and reaction times during repetition cycles: Explicit feedback improved retrieval for material successfully encoded in the initial study phase (consistent positive feedback) as well as for material learned during the repetition phase (mixed positive and negative feedback).DiscussionPerformance feedback improves learning beyond the effects of retrieval practice and correct-answer feedback, suggesting that it strengthens memory representations and promotes re-encoding of the material. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T17:08:42Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-807df2d72b4b48238f35667638a417e9 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1662-5153 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T17:08:42Z |
| publishDate | 2023-04-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience |
| spelling | doaj.art-807df2d72b4b48238f35667638a417e92023-04-20T09:11:33ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience1662-51532023-04-011710.3389/fnbeh.2023.11004971100497Performance feedback enhances test-potentiated encodingPetra Ludowicy0Petra Ludowicy1Pedro M. Paz-Alonso2Pedro M. Paz-Alonso3Thomas Lachmann4Thomas Lachmann5Thomas Lachmann6Daniela Czernochowski7Cognitive and Developmental Psychology Unit, Center for Cognitive Science, University of Kaiserslautern-Landau (RPTU), Kaiserslautern, GermanyCognitive Neuroscience Unit, Center for Cognitive Science, University of Kaiserslautern-Landau (RPTU), Kaiserslautern, GermanyBCBL, Basque Center on Cognition, Brain and Language, San Sebastian, SpainIKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao, SpainCognitive and Developmental Psychology Unit, Center for Cognitive Science, University of Kaiserslautern-Landau (RPTU), Kaiserslautern, GermanyCentro de Investigación Nebrija en Cognición (CINC), Universidad Nebrija, Madrid, SpainUniversity of Leuven, Leuven, BelgiumCognitive Neuroscience Unit, Center for Cognitive Science, University of Kaiserslautern-Landau (RPTU), Kaiserslautern, GermanyIntroductionLong-term memory retention is enhanced after testing compared to restudying (testing effect). Notably, memory retrieval further improves when correct-answer feedback is provided after the retrieval attempt (test-potentiated encoding–TPE).MethodsTo evaluate whether explicit positive or negative feedback further enhances memory performance beyond the effect of TPE, in two experiments additional explicit positive or negative performance-contingent feedback was presented before providing correct-answer feedback. After an initial exposure to the full material, 40 participants learned 210 weakly associated cue-target word pairs by either restudying or testing (Experiment 1). Depending on the accuracy of the retrieval attempt, the tested word pairs were followed by positive or negative performance feedback (50%) or no feedback (50%). Irrespective of the type of repetition, trials were followed by a restudy opportunity. Participants returned to perform a final cued-recall test (Day 2).ResultsFinal test results replicated the testing effect (better memory performance for tested compared to restudied items). Explicit performance feedback in addition to correct-answer feedback increased retrieval performance, but only on Day 2. This pattern of results was replicated in Experiment 2 in an independent sample of 25 participants. To assess the specific effects of learning history, we also examined retrieval accuracy and reaction times during repetition cycles: Explicit feedback improved retrieval for material successfully encoded in the initial study phase (consistent positive feedback) as well as for material learned during the repetition phase (mixed positive and negative feedback).DiscussionPerformance feedback improves learning beyond the effects of retrieval practice and correct-answer feedback, suggesting that it strengthens memory representations and promotes re-encoding of the material.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnbeh.2023.1100497/fullreinforcement learningepisodic memorytesting effecttest-potentiated learningfeedbackretrieval |
| spellingShingle | Petra Ludowicy Petra Ludowicy Pedro M. Paz-Alonso Pedro M. Paz-Alonso Thomas Lachmann Thomas Lachmann Thomas Lachmann Daniela Czernochowski Performance feedback enhances test-potentiated encoding Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience reinforcement learning episodic memory testing effect test-potentiated learning feedback retrieval |
| title | Performance feedback enhances test-potentiated encoding |
| title_full | Performance feedback enhances test-potentiated encoding |
| title_fullStr | Performance feedback enhances test-potentiated encoding |
| title_full_unstemmed | Performance feedback enhances test-potentiated encoding |
| title_short | Performance feedback enhances test-potentiated encoding |
| title_sort | performance feedback enhances test potentiated encoding |
| topic | reinforcement learning episodic memory testing effect test-potentiated learning feedback retrieval |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnbeh.2023.1100497/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT petraludowicy performancefeedbackenhancestestpotentiatedencoding AT petraludowicy performancefeedbackenhancestestpotentiatedencoding AT pedrompazalonso performancefeedbackenhancestestpotentiatedencoding AT pedrompazalonso performancefeedbackenhancestestpotentiatedencoding AT thomaslachmann performancefeedbackenhancestestpotentiatedencoding AT thomaslachmann performancefeedbackenhancestestpotentiatedencoding AT thomaslachmann performancefeedbackenhancestestpotentiatedencoding AT danielaczernochowski performancefeedbackenhancestestpotentiatedencoding |