Paired Associates Memory Test
A continuous study–test task from the classic Atkinson–Shiffrin (1968) memory experiments. Study letter–number pairs, recall them after controlled delays, and see your own lag-decay curve plotted against the model’s theoretical predictions. Free with a registered account.
How it works
Study
Letter–number pairs like QZ — 47 appear one at a time for two seconds each. Study and test events are interleaved, exactly like the original continuous paired-associate procedure.
Recall at controlled lags
Each pair is probed after a controlled number of intervening events — a lag of 1, 2, 4, 8, or 16. Short lags test the short-term store; long lags test what transferred to long-term storage.
Your curve vs. the model
Your per-lag accuracy is plotted against the Atkinson–Shiffrin theoretical curve, with the overall accuracy, the mean deviation from theory, and the lag-decay effect summarised in plain language.
Common questions
What does this test measure?
How recall accuracy falls as the interval between studying a pair and being tested on it grows. In the Atkinson–Shiffrin model, that decline reflects displacement from a limited short-term buffer and the amount of transfer into long-term storage.
What is the comparison curve?
The dashed reference line is the theoretical lag curve from Atkinson & Shiffrin (1968) — a published model prediction, not a population norm. No percentiles or standard scores are computed.
How seriously should I take one run?
Results reflect performance relative to Atkinson-Shiffrin (1968) theoretical predictions and should be interpreted directionally. This task uses a small trial count per lag condition; individual scores are subject to variability and should not be used in isolation for clinical conclusions.
Is it free?
Yes — no payment is required. Taking the task needs a free registered account; you then get the full report with your lag curve immediately.