Pre-registered replication for the effect of value on associative memory

Abstract

Value-directed remembering can improve learning of high-value information. However, it is unclear whether value can enhance memory of the binding of features of items. Yin et al. (2021) explored this issue by presenting colored stimuli with high or low value and comparing the memory performance of a group instructed to remember only the stimuli to that of a group instructed to remember both the stimuli and colors. The results showed that value enhanced memory of features only when binding was optimized. We conducted preregistered experiments to replicate Yin et al.'s (2021) Experiment 3a/b. We successfully replicated the original study's findings that value enhances memory of the stimuli themselves, regardless of the optimization of binding. However, our replication of the feature (color) of the stimuli was not entirely successful.