Channel Selection and the Suffix Effect

Abstract

Subjects were presented with a list of digits to alternate ears for serial recall. The list was followed by a suffix, a redundant acoustic event which did not have to be recalled. The suffix was presented either to one of the ears or binaurally. In all cases the suffix gave rise to a selective impairment of recall of the final items in the list. The results are interpreted as showing first that stimuli of the kind used are processed by simultaneously selecting both ears rather than by switching attention, and second that the site of the suffix effect is after the selection mechanism.