In short, the classic SME as a scientific tool is a blunt instrument. Much trailblazing work in the electrophysiology of human memory has used the SME, but its time has come to an end. Instead, we urge memory scientists to adopt contrasts that specifically measure associative memory, ideally between conditions where attention is matched. For example, a straightforward way to do this is to identify trials of successful memory that differ in the degree of encoded contextual detail, the vividness of retrieval, or the amount of retrieved information. Additionally, oscillation detection algorithms that separately assess spectral tilt and narrow-band oscillations can help detect the presence of oscillations despite co-occurring broad-band effects.
