ISSN 0439-755X
CN 11-1911/B
主办:中国心理学会
   中国科学院心理研究所
出版:科学出版社

心理学报 ›› 2025, Vol. 57 ›› Issue (3): 363-379.doi: 10.3724/SP.J.1041.2025.0363 cstr: 32110.14.2025.0363

• 研究报告 • 上一篇    下一篇

提取难度对困难材料提取练习效应的促进作用:来自行为和fNIRS的证据

张俐娟1, 江妍雪1, 马建平2, 崔博洋1, 张锦坤1()   

  1. 1福建师范大学心理学院, 福州 350117
    2山东师范大学心理学院, 济南 250358
  • 收稿日期:2024-04-19 发布日期:2025-01-24 出版日期:2025-03-25
  • 通讯作者: 张锦坤, E-mail: jinkunzhang@126.com
  • 作者简介:第一联系人:张俐娟和江妍雪为共同第一作者。
  • 基金资助:
    全国教育科学规划国家一般课题(BBA220203)

The positive effect of retrieval difficulty on the retrieval practice effect for difficult materials: Evidence from behavior and fNIRS

ZHANG Lijuan1, JIANG Yanxue1, MA Jianping2, CUI Boyang1, ZHANG Jinkun1()   

  1. 1School of Psychology, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, 350117
    2School of Psychology, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, 250358
  • Received:2024-04-19 Online:2025-01-24 Published:2025-03-25

摘要: 提取练习效应(Retrieval Practice Effect, RPE)的研究揭示了提取直接促进记忆保持和间接促进后续学习(重学)的关键作用。研究表明, 材料难度和提取难度是影响RPE的重要因素, 但以往研究未具体区分二者对提取练习直接和间接效应的影响。实验1采用2 (词对难度:简单, 困难) × 2 (提取支持:无, 有)的混合实验设计, 考察材料难度和提取难度对提取练习直接效应的影响。实验2引入提取后重学因素, 结合行为实验和fNIRS技术区分了材料难度和提取难度对提取练习两种效应的影响。结果发现, 相比有提取支持条件, 无提取支持条件下提取时颞上回脑区(与提取难度关联)的激活显著增强, 且前额皮层脑区(与加工深度关联)在重学阶段表现出更高的激活水平, 显著提高了最终记忆成绩。困难词对的提取练习效应弱于简单词对, 但无提取支持条件下重学困难词对时, 前额叶皮层脑区的激活水平显著更高, 有效促进了困难词对提取后的重学效果(记忆成绩显著提高)。以上发现表明, 提高提取难度增强了提取练习的直接和间接效应; 提取有助于促进困难材料的后续学习, 且增加提取难度有助于增强困难材料提取练习的间接效应。

关键词: 提取练习效应, 提取难度, 材料难度, fNIRS

Abstract:

The Retrieval Practice Effect (RPE) refers to the phenomenon whereby retrieving learned content can enhance learning and memory levels more effectively than studying repeatedly within the same amount of time. The RPE reveals the critical role of retrieval in facilitating memory retention (direct effect) and emphasizes its positive influence on metacognitive monitoring accuracy, which fosters subsequent learning and improves overall learning performance (indirect effect). Recent studies have indicated that both material difficulty and retrieval difficulty significantly influence the RPE. In this study, we investigated the impact of these factors on the direct and indirect effects of retrieval practice by manipulating the difficulty of word pairs and the level of retrieval support. Moreover, by incorporating behavioral experiments and functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) technology, we further investigate the cognitive neuroscientific mechanisms underlying the effects of material difficulty and retrieval difficulty on the RPE.

Experiment 1was a behavioral study in which a 2 (word pair difficulty: easy, difficult) × 2 (retrieval support: yes, no) mixed design was used to investigate the direct effects of retrieval practice on delayed testing (final test administered 2 days later). In experiment 2, an additional factor of restudy (after retrieval) was introduced and a 2 (retrieval support: yes, no) × 2 (word pair difficulty: easy, difficult) × 2 (restudy: yes, no) three-factor mixed design was used. This experiment was designed to further differentiated the impacts of word pair difficulty and retrieval support on both the direct and indirect effects of retrieval practice by combining behavioral measures with fNIRS technology.

The results showed a consistent direct effect in both experiments: the memory performance for easy word pairs was significantly higher than that for difficult word pairs, and the group without retrieval support performed significantly better on the delayed test than the group with retrieval support. The fNIRS brain imaging results revealed a significantly higher activation level in the superior temporal gyrus region (associated with retrieval difficulty) in the no-retrieval support condition than in the retrieval support condition. Moreover, learners exhibited more extensive activation in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (associated with cognitive load) during the retrieval of difficult word pairs than during the retrieval of easy word pairs. Regarding indirect effects, the group without retrieval support exhibited significantly superior memory performance compared with the group with retrieval support. Additionally, memory performance was significantly greater for easy word pairs than for difficult word pairs. However, a lack of retrieval support facilitated the relearning effect for difficult word pairs, leading to significant memory improvement during delayed testing. The fNIRS brain imaging results showed that, compared with the group with retrieval support, the group without retrieval support exhibited stronger activation of the prefrontal cortex region (associated with processing depth) during the restudy phase. Moreover, the activation of prefrontal cortex-related brain areas was reduced when easy word pairs were restudied after retrieval compared with that in initial learning phase. However, a significant enhancement in activation was observed during the restudying of difficult word pairs by the no-retrieval support group (compared with the initial learning phase).

The present study demonstrates that reducing retrieval support increases the difficulty of retrieval and promotes deeper processing during reencoding, which facilitates memory retention and enhances both direct and indirect effects of retrieval practice. These results provide empirical support for the retrieval effort hypothesis. Additionally, difficult materials have a weaker RPE than easy materials, but reducing retrieval support increases the retrieval difficulty and facilitating deeper processing during reencoding for difficult materials, effectively fostering the indirect effects of retrieval practice. Therefore, greater emphasis should be placed on the positive impact of retrieval-based relearning for difficult materials.

Key words: retrieval practice effect, retrieval difficulty, material difficulty, fNIRS

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