Remembering versus Knowing the Past: Children′s Explicit and Implicit Memories for Pictures

Abstract

Two studies are reported examining children′s explicit and implicit memory for pictures, using measures of recognition memory and perceptual facilitation. In Experiment 1, 3-year-olds showed significant implicit memory, as assessed by perceptual facilitation in identifying blurred pictures after a 3-month delay, even though they showed no explicit memory for the pictures, as assessed by recognition. This was true even though initial exposure to the pictures had been only in clear focus. The finding was replicated in Exxperiment 2, which also included 5-year-olds and adults. Recognition memory and perceptual facilitation were related for adults, but not for children at either age. The data suggest that age-related improvements in explicit memory could be due, at least in part, to the realization that perceptual fluency can be an indicator of prior experience.