title: Implicit memory for possible and impossible objects: constraints on the construction of structural descriptions.
abstract: Four experiments examined implicit memory or priming effects on an object decision task in which subjects decided whether structurally possible or impossible novel objects could exist in three-dimensional form. Results revealed equivalent levels of priming for possible objects after 1 vs. 4 5-s exposures to the same structural encoding task (Experiment 1) and when objects were studied with a single structural encoding task or 2 different structural encoding tasks (Experiment 3). Explicit memory, by contrast, was greatly affected by both manipulations. However, priming of possible objects was not observed when Ss were given only a single 1-s exposure to perform a structural encoding task (Experiment 2). No evidence for priming of impossible objects was observed in any of the 4 experiments. The data suggest that object decision priming depends on a presemantic structural description system that is distinct from episodic memory.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Arizona, Tucson 85721.
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Schacter
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Cooper
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Delaney
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Peterson
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tharan
mesh_terms: D001288:Attention; D003867:Depth Perception; D004193:Discrimination Learning; D006801:Humans; D011939:Mental Recall; D009903:Optical Illusions; D009949:Orientation; D010153:Paired-Associate Learning; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual; D012153:Retention, Psychology; D012660:Semantics; D012858:Size Perception