Modality Effects in Short Term Recognition Memory

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Abstract
Retention was assessed using a 4 alternative recognition test in a modified Brown-Peterson paradigm. Performance decreased with the length of the distraction interval at a faster rate when the test modality (auditory or visual) did not match the presentation modality than when test and presentation modalities did match. These results, which were replicated in a 2nd experiment (exp) were interpreted in terms of a dual-access model of the recognition process and a feature conception of memory codes. In Exp 1, modality-specific encoding was not circumvented by dual-modality presentation (auditory plus visual): dual-modality presentation resulted in performance comparable to that observed following visual presentation. When subjects (human) were instructed to attend to both modalities equally in Exp 2, the pattern of results reflected a corresponding shift in attentional bias but modality-dependent encoding was circumvented only partially. This result was inconsistent with either the notion of modality-specific processing capacities or dual-code theory.

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