Familiarity is related to conceptual implicit memory: an examination of individual differences

Abstract

Explicit memory is thought to be distinct from implicit memory. However, growing evidence has indicated that explicit familiarity-based recognition memory judgments rely on the same process that supports conceptual implicit memory. We tested this hypothesis by examining individual differences using a paradigm wherein we measured both familiarity and conceptual implicit memory within the same participants. In Experiments 1a and 1b, we examined recognition memory confidence ROCs and remember/know responses, respectively, to estimate recollection and familiarity, and used a free association task to measure conceptual implicit memory. The results demonstrated that, across participants, familiarity, but not recollection, was significantly correlated with conceptual priming. In contrast, in Experiment 2, utilizing a similar paradigm, a comparison of recognition memory ROCs and explicit associative cued-recall performance indicated that cued recall was related to both recollection and familiarity. These results are consistent with models assuming that familiarity-based recognition and conceptual implicit memory rely on similar underlying processes.

Fig. 1

Recognition memory performance in all three experiments. a Average receiver operating characteristic curves from Experiment 1a and 2, fit to the dual-process signal detection model. Chance performance is represented by the diagonal. b Overall recognition memory discriminability (d′), recollection, and familiarity in all three experiments

Fig. 2

Average conceptual priming (Exps. 1a and 1b) and cued recall (Exp. 2) plotted against measures of recognition memory. Recollection and familiarity were estimated with ROCs in Exps. 1a and 2, whereas the remember/know method was used in Exp. 1b. a In Experiment 1a, d′ and familiarity, but not recollection, increased with conceptual priming. b Similarly, d′ and familiarity, but not recollection, were correlated with conceptual priming in Experiment 1b. c In Experiment 2, d′ and recollection, but not familiarity, were related to cued recall. ^*p < .05