Effects of phonetic symbolism labeling on shape recognition memory

Abstract

The temporal course of shape recognition was measured after the subjects were trained to associate the shapes either with verbal labels of phonetic symbolism or to nonsense syllables, or else just to observe them. Either immediately or after delays of 15 min or a week, the subjects were given a shape recognition test and both free and aided recall tests for retention of associated verbal labels. Results were: (a) The recognition in the condition of phonetic symbolism labeling was performed better by subjects than in that of nonsense syllable. (b) Though both shape recognition and label recall decreased according to the lengths of delays employed, their decrease patterns were different. These results were interpreted in terms of the conceptual coding hypothesis. © 1978, The Japanese Psychological Association. All rights reserved.