The modality effect: What happens in long-term memory?

Abstract

Auditorily and visually presented lists were either recalled (R) or not recalled (NR) immediately after input and were later tested on a delayed recall test. For lists given the immediate free recall test, auditorily presented items were better recalled than visually presented items, but only for the last few serial positions, thus replicating the standard modality effect. In delayed recall, recall of items in the R lists was superior to the recall of items in the NR lists. More importantly, for R lists, auditory presentation led to superior recall for the last few serial positions whereas for NR lists visual presentation led to superior recall for the last few serial positions. The fact that modality of presentation had opposite effects on the delayed recall of R and NR recency items was discussed in terms of a prelinguistic auditory store and that store's effect on the depth to which material is processed.