PASAT strategies
My also unconscious method was subtraction.
Instead of adding 8,9,4 I just subtracted 2 from the last total and add 4. Such trick should be very useful for higher N - you subtract and add just two numbers.
Instead of adding 8,9,4 I just subtracted 2 from the last total and add 4. Such trick should be very useful for higher N - you subtract and add just two numbers.
vrud | 3 years ago
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While playing the PASAT game, I noticed my strategy is starting to change.
Originally, using the digit span task as my base skill, I would add all of the digits together remembering only the last n. It is a very thorough method, but somewhat slow.
Recently however, I've started (not by conscious effort) to use more of the n-back paradigm or foundation. Instead of adding all of the numbers up and remembering continuously updating the last n, I've started keeping the total as well and comparing the most recent digit to the digit n before it. So for example, during the sequence 2,8,9,4 instead of remembering 2,8,9 and then 8,9,4 I've started to replace the 2 with the four so I remember 2,8,9 then 4,8,9 etc.
This chunking method has also become my method of choice with dual n-back so I suppose this is one example of learning to encode things more efficiently.
Another small thought (I'm a little verbose): does anyone have ideas on how to make the manipulation of the items in this task more difficult? Though rapid addition is difficult especially under the pressure of time, the addition seems to become more memorization (I try not to use my fingers).
Originally, using the digit span task as my base skill, I would add all of the digits together remembering only the last n. It is a very thorough method, but somewhat slow.
Recently however, I've started (not by conscious effort) to use more of the n-back paradigm or foundation. Instead of adding all of the numbers up and remembering continuously updating the last n, I've started keeping the total as well and comparing the most recent digit to the digit n before it. So for example, during the sequence 2,8,9,4 instead of remembering 2,8,9 and then 8,9,4 I've started to replace the 2 with the four so I remember 2,8,9 then 4,8,9 etc.
This chunking method has also become my method of choice with dual n-back so I suppose this is one example of learning to encode things more efficiently.
Another small thought (I'm a little verbose): does anyone have ideas on how to make the manipulation of the items in this task more difficult? Though rapid addition is difficult especially under the pressure of time, the addition seems to become more memorization (I try not to use my fingers).
Whoopska | 3 years ago
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