New Research From Psychological Science

Read about the latest research on cognitive processes related to memory, priming, and decision-making published in Psychological Science and Current Directions in Psychological Science.

Independence of Data-Driven and Conceptually Driven Priming: The Case of Person Recognition

Stephan G. Boehm and Werner Sommer

One of the central tenets of memory theories assumes that data-driven priming (facilitated processing of stimuli based on perceptual information) and conceptual priming (facilitated processing of stimuli based on conceptual knowledge in semantic memory) are independent. To test the independence of these two types of priming, participants performed a task in which they had to identify whether a picture represented an actor or not. Participants received data-driven priming, conceptual priming, or both prior to performing the task. When researchers added up the amount of priming in the data-priming and conceptual priming conditions, the total equaled the priming effect found in the combined priming condition, indicating that conceptual and data-driven priming are indeed independent.

Published online July 31, 2012 in Psychological Science

Crossing the Virtual Boundary: The Effect of Task-Irrelevant Environmental Cues on Task Implementation

Min Zhao, Leonard Lee, and Dilip Soman

Do environmental cues such as queue guides, floor mats, and seating areas affect decisions related to task completion, such as whether to continue to wait in line? In the first of 4 experiments, the researchers placed long, short, or no queue guides beside a busy subway ATM. The researchers observed people at the ATM and recorded how many left the line before completing their transaction. Significantly fewer people left the ATM line when long queue guides were used than left when there were short or no queue guides. The researchers suggest that queue lines serve as a virtual boundary. When people cross over this boundary, they see themselves as entering into a system, which leads them to adopt a mindset that results in increased task persistence.

Published online August 21, 2012 in Psychological Science

The Self and Science: Is It Time for a New Approach to the Study of Human Experience?

Stanley B. Klein

What does it mean when we measure the self? Can scientists do so accurately? In discussing the components of the epistemological and the ontological self, Klein suggests that although many different neurocognitive systems help create the epistemological self, no one of these systems is necessary for maintaining the experience of the self. In contrast, the ontological self is too poorly understood to adequately define and as such is not yet a good candidate for psychological research.

Published in the August 2012 issue of Current Directions in Psychological Science

Across the Event Horizon

Gabriel A. Radvansky

Transitions between events — also known as event boundaries — can both hinder and improve memory. According to Radvansky, event transitions can lead to increases in processing activity, which in turn help enhance memory. However, when information is mentally linked to several events (such as when event transitions occur), memory for those events can be decreased. The author introduces Event Horizon Model to explain the seemingly opposite memory effects seen during event transitions.

Published in the August 2012 issue of Current Directions in Psychological Science