The Effects of Divides Attention on Long-term Memory for Natualistic Stimuli

The ability to identify previously experienced events is a fundamental aspect of memory. This study investigates recognition memory using naturalistic stimuli, specifically news headlines, to explore both controlled (recollection) and automatic (familiarity) memory processes. Most recognition memory experiments rely on simplistic stimuli like words or pictures, but we aim to extend these theories by using more complex, naturalistic materials (news headlines). Participants completed recognition tasks with both headlines and pictures to establish baseline differences between these stimuli types. The order of presentation between stimulus types was randomized between pictures or headlines first. They were assigned to either full or divided attention conditions during study, with the divided attention group completing an n-back task while encoding headlines. After encoding, participants listened to a podcast and answered questions about it to introduce a delay between taking an old/new recognition memory test. Recollection and familiarity estimates were calculated using the Dual Process Signal Detection model. Previous research has found that dividing attention has been shown to have large effects on estimates of recollection, whereas familiarity typically shows smaller or no effects. Preliminary results indicate that estimates of both recollection and familiarity were higher for headlines compared to pictures across both attention conditions. These findings highlight the need for further research on naturalistic stimuli, including long-form media such as music, podcasts, movies.