Some targets for memory models☆
Section snippets
Progress in computational modeling of memory
Turning first to an examination of the somewhat vexing issue of what exactly constitutes “progress,” one cannot help but note that previous discussions of the issue were sometimes characterized by angst about whether the field as a whole has made sufficient cumulative advances (e.g., Krantz, Atkinson, Luce, & Suppes, 1974, cited in Estes, 1975). We take as our lead a discussion of the issue of progress and its proper metric in an influential article by Estes (1975), titled “Some targets for
Some targets for memory modeling
Our analysis leads us to postulate four targets for future endeavors in the modeling of human memory. Although those targets are necessarily subjective, we keep them as generic as possible by avoiding focus on particular domains of enquiry.
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Overcoming “isolationism.” We have already pointed out how some of the papers in this issue are beginning to build bridges between areas of enquiry. This trend is welcome and must continue if we wish to overcome some of the rather arbitrary divisions
Conclusions
In our view, the articles compiled in this special issue indisputably reveal that modeling of human memory has made tremendous progress during the last 30 years. Although much remains to be done—and we have postulated some tentative targets for future endeavors—the abundance of novel technical tools and the accompanying increased precision of our theories and sophistication of the data base undeniably represent real progress. The self-criticism and skepticism that characterized earlier
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The authors are grateful to Kay Bock, Bob Greene, and Dave Plaut for comments on this article. Preparation of this article was facilitated by a Large Grant and by a Discovery Grant from the Australian Research Council to the first author.