Effects of Levels-of-processing and Test-list Context on Recognition and Pupil Dilation

Abstract

Recognition can be associated with experiences of recollection and/or familiarity. Bodner and Lindsay (2003) found that critical items were more likely to be experienced as recollected (vs. familiar) when tested with a set of less (vs. more) memorable items. But it remains unclear whether test context influences participants’ functional definitions of recollection/familiarity or the strength of their recognition experiences. There is also a debate regarding whether pupil dilation at test reflects cognitive effort, memory strength, and/or the recreation of encoding effort. To help clarify these issues, my thesis examined the effects of levels-of-processing (LOP) and test context on recognition experiences and pupil dilation. Pupil dilation at study and test, and for recollection versus familiarity, provided partial support for all three bases of pupil dilation. In contrast, pupil dilation was not influenced by test context, suggesting context influences a judgment stage (not reflected in the pupil), rather than the recognition experience.