Long-Term Retention of Plausible vs Bizarre Paired Associates as a Function of Cued Recall

Abstract

Past research has shown that bizarre imagery facilitates long-term recall of noun pairs. An experiment was executed to investigate the effects of bizarreness when more pronounced delays were used. Undergraduate subjects were shown 30 plausible and 30 bizarre scenes, asked to rate the pictures on their own image scale, and were then given an unexpected recall test 1 or 2 wk. later. Analysis indicated that bizarre images aided recall only under the 2-wk. delay. We have suggested that interference over time may be less with bizarre images, especially when an incidental learning paradigm is employed.