Environmental context and recognition memory reconsidered

Abstract

This study demonstrated that environmental-context(EC)-dependent memory can occur with recognition memory. In Experiment 1, five lists were presented, each in a different room, and recognition memory for all five lists was tested in one of the five rooms. On a yes-no recognition test, recognition was reliably affected by EC. In Experiment 2, two lists were studied, each in a different room, and memory for both lists was tested in one of the two rooms, using either free-recall, cued-recall, or recognition testing. Reliable effects of the test room were found only on the recognition test, which contained a randomized mix of the two lists. The results of both experiments show that contrary to the prevailing belief, EC-dependent recognition does occur in the laboratory. © 1985, The Psychonomic Society, Inc.. All rights reserved.