Children's Encoding of the Sense Impressions Evoked by Words

Abstract

Recall by 128 8- and 10-yr.-old children was tested on a release from proactive inhibition task. Each of five trials consisted of presentation of two words to be remembered, a distracting task, and an interval for recall. Words on Trials 1 to 4 were selected from one of two categories of sense impression: round, e.g., head, balloon, or white, e.g., snow, napkin. Words on Trial 5 were selected from the alternate category. In one condition the name of the sense-impression category was given immediately prior to the presentation of words to be remembered. In a second condition the category name was not provided. Recall on Trial 5 increased only for children who received the category cue. Thus, while children may not spontaneously encode the sense impressions evoked by words, they can be induced to do so.