title: Multiple contexts and memory retrieval at three months.
abstract: Studies of adults have shown that the contextual dependence of memory retrieval can be alleviated by training in multiple contexts. In the present studies with 3-month-old infants, retention was disrupted when infants were trained in one context and tested in another, but not when they were trained in multiple contexts prior to testing in a novel context. The retention advantage of multiple learning contexts was observed after 3 days in a simple forgetting paradigm (Exp. 1) and after 14 days in a reactivation paradigm (Exp. 2). These findings demonstrate that although the setting in which an event occurs is an important determinant of memory retrieval at 3 months, its protective function can be overridden by common experiences in varied settings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08903.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rovee-Collier
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dufault
mesh_terms: D001245:Association Learning; D001288:Attention; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall; D002666:Psychology, Child; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D012153:Retention, Psychology; D012931:Social Environment; D014163:Transfer, Psychology