Volitional and strategic retrieval-orientation adoption in reality monitoring: an ERP study

Abstract: Retrieval orientations refer to cognitive states that, if adopted, tonically orients episodic retrieval attempts towards the sought-after type of information. Such orientations can enhance episodic retrieval by modulating the processing and effectiveness of retrieval cues. The current study investigated if retrieval orientations are adopted volitionally and spontaneously, as previous studies have not addressed this question. This was investigated in a source-memory paradigm, designed for the present purposes. Participants were exposed to three study-test blocks. At study, participants encoded words denoting everyday objects. Half of these words were followed by a picture of the object, and half by the instruction to imagine the object. At test, two blocks were respectively manipulated so as to make words from one study condition more prevalent, making it beneficial for the participants to adopt an orientation towards this type of encoded item. A third test block acted as a baseline, and did not contain a retrieval-orientation manipulation but instead contained equal amounts of words from the two study conditions. Source accuracy was best for the more prevalent item-type in the two manipulated blocks, and did not differ between the two old item-types in the baseline block. The ERPs from correct rejections were not significantly different between blocks. Moreover, accuracy and ERP analyses conducted on the first versus second half within blocks did not reveal any significant differences. Possible reasons for the obtained results are discussed, such as it not being relevant for participants to adopt retrieval orientations due to their initial high accuracy rate.