Self-referent encoding facilitates memory binding in young children: New insights into the self-reference effect in memory development

Abstract

Episodic memory allows humans to retrieve and distinguish specific memories. The formation of item–context bindings, whereby the to-be-recalled items are tied to aspects of the encoding context, is important to the effective operation of episodic memory. The self-reference effect refers to the memory advantage for items encoded in relation to the self versus another. The current research examined the extent to which 4-, 5-, and 6-year-old children (N = 138) can recognize item–context bindings and whether binding recognition is facilitated when the context is the self versus other compared with one of two dogs. Children encoded line drawings of objects in the context of one of two referents. The referents were photographs of Bull mastiff and German shepherd dogs (dogs condition) or photographs of the participant child’s face or another child’s face (people condition). Children then completed a recognition test. Responses to different trial types were combined to derive indices of item discrimination, referent discrimination, and binding discrimination. Children of all ages discriminated items and referents, and there were no significant differences between the conditions. Discrimination of bindings did not exceed chance in the dogs condition but was significantly more accurate in the people condition. Replicating previous findings, self-reference advantages were observed on item discrimination and referent discrimination. Extending previous research, there was also a self-reference advantage on binding discrimination. The findings are consistent with an attentional capture interpretation. One’s own face captures attention, facilitating encoding of the bindings between the objects and referents.