Visual Imagery in Recognition and Source Memory for Audiotape and Text

Abstract

80 participants heard an audiotape of a crime, read an account with both correct and new information, then took recognition and source memory tests. While listening and reading, participants attended carefully, and half also formed visual images of the events. Imagery instructions had no effects, but recognition memory was better for material from the text only than from the audiotape only, whereas source memory was better for audiotape than for text. These results replicate previous findings for film and audiotape.