Alexis Kulin | 2026 I.S. Symposium
±·²¹³¾±ð:ÌýAlexis Kulin
°Õ¾±³Ù±ô±ð:ÌýThe PE Influences Memory Encoding and Retrieval: An ERP Study
²Ñ²¹Âá´Ç°ù:ÌýNeuroscience
´¡»å±¹¾±²õ´Ç°ù:ÌýGrit Herzmann
The Product Effect (PE) is a memory phenomenon where reading words out loud produces superior memory than reading words silently. Present research has established distinctiveness as an influence on the PE, citing the distinct elements of speaking (audition and articulation) as causes for more accurate recollection. The current study utilized a typical remember/know paradigm to explore the neural signature that underlies memory retrieval and memory encoding during the PE using event-related potentials (ERPs). Specifically, it aimed to observe and compare the PE between the study and test phase ERPs to determine if encoding during the study phase is impacted by the PE. Participants were presented with novel nouns to read aloud or silently during the study phase. During the test phase participants were presented with the previously studied and new nouns, identifying each as ‘remember,’ ‘know, ’or ‘new’. The behavioral results demonstrated a PE where participants produced higher accuracy in the aloud condition for ‘remember’ responses compared to words read silently. On the ERP level, results demonstrated larger Dm ERP components for ‘remember’ and ‘know’ responses in the aloud but not the silent condition during the study phase, indicating that the PE significantly influenced memory encoding. The FN400 ERP component revealed more positive amplitudes during the aloud condition, but was otherwise insignificant. Amplitudes at the LPC ERP component during the test phase revealed spatial differences in amplitude distributions, with more positive amplitudes at left parietal and frontal areas in the aloud condition, whereas amplitudes were more positive at right parietal regions for the silent condition. These are the first results to confirm the influence of the PE on memory encoding, while also demonstrating the effect of distinctiveness on recollection.
Posted in Symposium 2026 on May 1, 2026.
