title: The role of explicit memory processes in cross-modal priming: an investigation of stem completion priming in amnesia.
abstract: To clarify the role of explicit memory processes in cross-modal priming, two experiments examined the status of cross-modal stem completion priming in amnesia. Experiment 1 used a standard behavioral paradigm in which stems corresponding to studied and unstudied words were intermixed. Amnesic patients showed intact within- and cross-modal priming, but, in contrast to controls, they recognized very few of their completions as having been on the study list. This finding suggests that memorial awareness is not necessary for cross-modal priming to occur. Experiment 2 used a paradigm modeled after functional imaging studies, in which stems corresponding to studied and unstudied words were blocked. Amnesic patients showed intact within-modal priming, but impaired cross-modal priming. This finding is consistent with the notion that a blocked format induces voluntary retrieval strategies in normal participants.
authors.affiliation: Memory Disorders Research Center, Boston VA Healthcare System, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. verf@bu.edu
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Verfaellie
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Keane
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Cook
mesh_terms: D020324:Amnesia, Anterograde / Q000523:psychology*; D001288:Attention; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020915:Korsakoff Syndrome / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008570:Memory, Short-Term; D011939:Mental Recall; D008875:Middle Aged; D011932:Reading; D012016:Reference Values; D012153:Retention, Psychology; D013067:Speech Perception; D014706:Verbal Learning