The influence of target detection on recognition memory during memory retrieval

This study developed a target detection delayed response task to investigate the impact of target detection on recognition memory. Participants performed a word recognition task accompanied by a target detection task, where they identified targets but refrained from responding (target decision trials); in subsequent trials, they responded to previously detected targets (target response trial), while in distraction trials, they ignored distractions. In Experiment 1, the proportions of target decision, target response, and distraction trials were equal. In Experiment 2, the proportions were 1:1:4. The results of Experiment 1 showed that the recognition response times (RTs) for both “old” and “new” words were significantly longer in the target decision compared to distraction trials, and the recognition RTs for “old” words were significantly shorter in the target response compared with distraction trials. The results of Experiment 2 showed that compared to the distraction trials, in the target decision trials, the recognition rates were significantly lower and the recognition RTs were significantly longer for “old” words, and the recognition RTs were also significantly longer for “new” words. Altogether, target decision interferes with the recognition of both “new” and “old” words, whereas target response promotes the recognition of “old” words.