Multiple contexts and memory retrieval at three months

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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.