Attributes of memory that mediate priming effects in perceptual identification

Abstract

Two experiments were conducted to explore the nature of the memory trace that mediated priming effects in perceptual identification. In Experiment I, the script type of items (Kana and Kanji) was manipulated between study and test phases. Priming effects were greater when the script type was held constant between study and test. This suggested that memory for physical information mediates priming effects. Experiment II was designed for dissociation between phonemic and semantic information of the memory trace, using homophones as study and test items. Subjects more readily identified homophones that were both phonemically and semantically constant between study and test than homophones that were only phonemically constant. Further, significant priming effects were obtained even when the physical and semantic information were changed between study and test. These results suggested that not only memory for physical information but also for phonemic and semantic information mediates priming effects in perceptual identification.