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Updated: Nov 21, 2025

Examining Recall Memory in Infancy and Early Childhood Using the Elicited Imitation Paradigm
Published on: April 28, 2016
Temporal proximity to the elicitation of curiosity is key for enhancing memory for incidental information
Charlotte Murphy1, Vera Dehmelt1, Andrew P Yonelinas2,3
1Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC), School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Wales CF24 4HQ, United Kingdom.
Abstract:
Curiosity states benefit memory for target information, but also incidental information presented during curiosity states. However, it is not known whether incidental curiosity-enhanced memory depends on when incidental information during curiosity states is encountered. Here, participants incidentally encoded unrelated face images at different time points while they anticipated answers to trivia questions. Across two experiments, we found memory enhancements for unrelated faces presented during high-curiosity compared with low-curiosity states, but only when presented shortly after a trivia question. This suggests processes associated with the elicitation of curiosity-but not sustained anticipation or the satisfaction of curiosity-enhance memory for incidental information.
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