Image-Formation Time is Not Related to Recall of Bizarre and Plausible Images

Abstract

Past studies of bizarre imagery in which image-formation time is reported have not directly investigated the potential relation of that measure to recall. In the present study, 50 subjects spontaneously formed images from pairs of words to test the idea that quickly formed images are recalled more often. There was no relationship between image-formation time and recall. Image bizarreness and image interaction did not facilitate recall, and there were no differences in the times required to form bizarre and plausible images. The latter findings, which are inconsistent with much of the past research, may be the result of allowing subjects to form images spontaneously, rather than specifying the image to be formed.