The enhancing of memory for the first items in a sequence can be attributed to which effect?

The enhancement of memory for the first items in a sequence is attributed to the primacy effect. This phenomenon occurs because the first items presented in a list have an opportunity to be rehearsed more than later items, leading to stronger encoding into long-term memory. In contrast to items presented later, which may be overwhelmed by subsequent information, the initial items benefit from a lack of competition, allowing for deeper processing and enhanced retrieval.

As people rehearse the first few items, they become more firmly established in memory. This effect highlights the importance of the order of information when it comes to memory retrieval, demonstrating how initial exposures can lead to superior recall compared to later items. Understanding the primacy effect provides valuable insights into how learning and memory are influenced by sequence and timing.