Positive transfer of familiarization training to recognition performance: Effects of stimulus complexity and association value

Abstract

Effects of complexity and association value of random shapes on the amount of transfer from stimulus familiarization training to a later recognition task were examined. Familiarization training resulted in strong positive transfer effects to later recognition performance. Increases in stimulus complexity were associated with increases in recognition performance only when familiarization training was administered. It was suggested that increases in stimulus complexity provide more usable stimulus information for recognition but that such information is only effectively utilized by S for recognition when familiarization training is provided.