Perceptual priming tasks

From Psy3242

Definition of Priming

Priming is a phenomenon of long-term memory that typically increases or decreases an individual's ability to process repeated stimuli, usually consisting of words, ideas, or pictures. Most long-term memory tasks such as this are comprised of three phases: 1) a study phase, 2) a retention interval in which a diversion task is performed, and 3) a test phase in which memories of the previously studied material are retrieved. Priming is often described as a manifestation of implicit memory. One of its properties is that the remembered stimulus is often better remembered later in the form in which it was originally experienced. For example, if a stimulus was given in an auditory form, a later auditory cue would produce more successful performance than a visual cue. Priming can also be used in experimental form whereby a stimulus is presented to a subject to sensitize to a later presentation of the same stimulus or a similar one. Presentation of a particular word such as 'chair' in a list of priming words will later raise the probability of the subject answering with that word when asked to think of a word beginning with the fragment 'cha'.

Perceptual

Certain priming tasks are considered to be primarily perceptual in nature, drawing upon processes concerned with the visual, auditory, and tactile forms of a target stimulus. These include word and picture identification, lexical decision, picture and word naming, degraded picture and word naming, completing word-stems, anagram solution, and word-fragment completion. Perceptual priming is sensitive to the exact format and modality of a certain stimulus.