Abstract
According to the conceptual distinctiveness hypothesis, the picture superiority effect (PSE) results from processing a picture’s conceptually distinctive features rather than its semantic features (Hamilton & Geraci, 2006). However, it is not clear whether the type of encoding task influences the type of features by which a picture is processed, or how the hypothesis applies to explicit memory. We investigate these questions by manipulating the type of encoding, stimuli, test cue, and retrieval intention. Participants studied pictures or words through naming (Experiment 1) or categorization (Experiment 2). Then, they received both an implicit and an explicit general knowledge test and were either provided with only semantic or conceptually-distinctive cues. In Experiment 1, the PSE occurred within the implicit test only for conceptually distinctive test cues, and within the explicit test regardless of cue type. In Experiment 2, the PSE did not occur in any condition. In conclusion, the findings of this study suggest that the use of conceptually distinctive information within pictures depends on the nature of the encoding task and the retrieval intention at test.
