On an associative trace for sentence memory

An associationist model for sentence memory is described that assumes a configuration of independent associations underlies the memory trace for a simple sentence. This is contrasted with a gestalt hypothesis that postulates a unitary trace for the simple sentence. The associationist model, but not the gestalt model, leads to two predictions that were confirmed: (a) incomplete recall of simple sentences should be a frequent occurrence, and (b) repetition of the same verb in a number of sentences should decrease recall of the object to the cue of subject plus verb.