The effects of verbalization on memory for orientation in pictures

This study examined the effects of verbal encoding on memory for the left/right orientation in pictures. Previous research has shown that memory for the left/right orientation of pictures is worse than simple recognition memory. We suggested that encoding labels that contained left/right information during input would not aid subsequent ability to discriminate orientation. In addition, we examined the effects of an initial label test, as a means of delayed rehearsal, on a subsequent picture orientation test. The results indicated that memory for the left/right orientation is pictures is primarily of a non-verbal nature, and that the positive effects of the initial label test were not due to rehearsal of the verbal information in the label but rather due to rehearsal of pictorial information.