Verbal and Nonverbal Mediators in Recognition Memory for Complex Visual Stimuli.

It was predicted that two variables would influence recognition memory for complex visual stimuli: association values, and the realistic-abstract dimension, or "objectivity". The stimuli were 12 reproductions of realistic paintings (clearly representing real world objects), six of high association value and six of low; and 12 abstract pictures, also evenly divided into high and low association groups. After .5 sec. exposures of each of the 12 realistic (abstract) pictures, subjects attempted to identify the 12 among an array of 60 similar pictures. The overall effects of both objectivity and association value were significant. In addition, a significant difference was found between high and low association abstract, but not between high and low association realistic pictures. The results are discussed in terms of a two-channel encoding model using both imaginal and verbal mediators, with the former being both more basic and more independent. (Author)