Elaborative strategies contribute to the long-term benefits of time in working memory

Abstract The current experiments investigated the long-term advantage for words studied during complex span versus simple span, i.e., McCabe effect. According to covert retrieval account, effect occurs because affords opportunities that facilitate episodic memory (EM). Conversely, time-in-working-memory (WM) hypothesis asserts time items spend in WM predicts EM, irrespective of any opportunity retrieval. We whether specifically allows elaboration by considering influence reported and instructed strategies slow where latter, a pause equivalent duration distraction interleaved memoranda. results indicated (i) is just as frequent (ii) spontaneous accentuates over commensurate with account time-in-WM hypothesis.