Classifying judgement of learning trials
To reversely infer that memory retrieval processes underlie monitoring
of learning it needs to be shown that the successful classification
of overt recall trials generalizes to brain activity maps obtained during
the monitoring task. The same retrieval processes are assumed to be executed
in the monitoring task, but now covertly and embedded in a
complex metacognitive task that invokes additional cognitive processes
(e.g., monitoring, scaling of internal information, dosed responding,
reading the response scale). This task was in all respects similar to the
overt recall task, including identical time lag conditions, but with the
cued recall response replaced by a judgement of learning response
(Fig. 1B). Instead of overtly retrieving the second word, participants
had to judge verbally on a 6-point scale their confidence that they
would recall the second word at a later test. This task was performed
by five participants.