The role of context in animal memory

Abstract

Past research has shown that testing memory in the same context in which the memory was encoded leads to improved retention relative to testing memory in a new context. Context-dependent memory is directly related to the extent to which the encoding context can be reproduced. An experiment with pigeons is reported in which the context was a colored house-light that completely enveloped the learning and testing contexts. Under this condition, perfect retention of a visual discrimination that reversed at midsession was shown. Beyond reactivation of memory, new research with pigeons suggests that context provides access to different working and reference memory systems. Finally, experiments are reported that suggest context may selectively access information about features from the different dimensions of place, color, and time.