Superposition of episodic memories: overdistribution and quantum models. Academic Article uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • Memory exhibits episodic superposition, an analog of the quantum superposition of physical states: Before a cue for a presented or unpresented item is administered on a memory test, the item has the simultaneous potential to occupy all members of a mutually exclusive set of episodic states, though it occupies only one of those states after the cue is administered. This phenomenon can be modeled with a nonadditive probability model called overdistribution (OD), which implements fuzzy-trace theory's distinction between verbatim and gist representations. We show that it can also be modeled based on quantum probability theory. A quantum episodic memory (QEM) model is developed, which is derived from quantum probability theory but also implements the process conceptions of global matching memory models. OD and QEM have different strengths, and the current challenge is to identify contrasting empirical predictions that can be used to pit them against each other.

publication date

  • September 11, 2013

Research

keywords

  • Cues
  • Memory, Episodic
  • Models, Statistical
  • Psychological Theory
  • Quantum Theory

Identity

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 84885481239

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1111/tops.12039

PubMed ID

  • 24027175

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 5

issue

  • 4