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Abstract:
Multiple systems of memory theories assert that the
repetition priming (RP) relies on a representation of the stimulus
that does not include contextual information. Binding central and
contextual information is regarded as an episodic memory function
subtended by the hippocampus. However, the involvement of the
hippocampus in RP was recently suggested because amnesic patients
with hippocampal lesions did not show the same spatial context
effect on RP than normal controls (Chun & Phelps, Nature,
1999). Thus, a contextual information bound to the stimulus might
influence RP. An important variable is that context is bound to a
stimulus as a function of its mode of encoding. For instance,
spatial locations are known to be best encoded automatically, and
colors, to be best encoded intentionally. Therefore, we
investigated the effects of spatial locations and colors of novel
geometric shapes on RP in a structural decision task (open vs
closed decision). The context was irrelevant for performing the
task and was not attentionally encoded. Thirty six undergraduate
students were tested. In Experiment1, changing the spatial location
of the stimulus between prime and probe trials disrupted the RP.
This disruption was not due a shift of visual attention. In
Experiment2, RP was identical whenever the color was changed or
not. Results suggest that spatial context irrelevant for the task
and encoded incidentally influences RP.
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