Sizing up the associative account of repetition priming

Psychol Res. 2010 Jan;74(1):35-49. doi: 10.1007/s00426-008-0224-9. Epub 2009 Jan 14.

Abstract

Three studies which test an associative account of repetition priming in a size comparison task are reported. Congruence of decision between priming and test affected performance when the priming task and test tasks were the same but not when they differed. This congruence effect was unaffected by the proportion of trials with congruent responses. Same-task priming exceeded cross-task priming even when both tasks required the same aspect of semantic knowledge. The results indicate that a component of priming is due to associations which are formed during priming and automatically activated when stimuli are repeated at test. Stimuli do not become associated with motor responses but are associated with the results of processing at a number of other levels.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Association Learning
  • Association*
  • Generalization, Psychological
  • Humans
  • Photic Stimulation
  • Reaction Time
  • Word Association Tests