General precedes specific in memory representations for structured experience

Abstract

Decades of work has shown that learners rapidly extract structure from their environment, later leveraging their knowledge of what is more versus less consistent with prior experience to guide behavior. However, open questions remain about exactly what is remembered after exposure to structure. Memory for specific associations-transitions that unfold over time-is considered a prime candidate for guiding behavior. However, other factors could influence behavior, such as memory for general features like reliable groupings or within-group positions. We also do not yet know whether memory depends upon the amount of experience with the input structure, leaving us with an incomplete understanding of how statistical learning supports behavior. In 4 experiments, we tracked the emergence of memory for item-item transitions, order-independent groups, and positions by having 400 adults watch a stream of shape triplets followed by a recognition memory test. We manipulated how closely test sequences corresponded to the input along each dimension of interest, allowing us to isolate the contribution of each factor. Both item-item transitions and order-independent group information influenced behavior, highlighting statistical learning as a mechanism through which we form both specific and generalized representations. Moreover, these factors drove behavior after different amounts of experience: With limited exposure, only group information impacted old-new judgments specific transitions gained importance later. Our findings suggest statistical learning proceeds by first forming a general representation of structure, with memory being later refined to include specifics after more experience. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).