High-speed memory retrieval with auditorily presented stimuli

Two groups of 8 Ss memorized three lists of consonental phonemes. The length of the memorized lists (M) was one, two, and four phonemes. Test words were presented, and reaction time (RT) for S to say whether or not the word started with a member of the memorized list was measured. RT increased with M. In one group, the phonemes comprising the memorized sets were dissimilar. RT increased linearly with M for that group. In the other group, the phonemes comprising the sets were similar. The function relating RT to M appeared to deviate from linearity. Even after extended practice, all the evidence was consistent with a somewhat modified serial model of memory retrieval.