High fluency can improve recognition sensitivity based on learned metacognitive expectations.

Area of Science:

• Cognitive Psychology
• Human Memory
• Perceptual Fluency

Background:

• Processing fluency, the ease with which information is processed, typically leads to a liberal response bias in recognition judgments.
• This bias stems from learned associations between processing ease, encounter frequency, and memory strength.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate whether high processing fluency can enhance recognition judgment sensitivity.
• To determine if exposure to both fluent and non-fluent processing during training influences this effect.

Main Methods:

• Thirty-three participants completed a serial reaction time task with a 12-element sequence.
• Training involved alternating blocks of constant (fluent) and variable (non-fluent) response stimulus intervals.
• Recognition judgments were assessed under fluent and non-fluent test conditions.

Main Results:

• Participants demonstrated superior discrimination between old and new sequences under fluent test conditions compared to non-fluent conditions.
• Training with alternating fluency eliminated liberal or conservative response biases.

Conclusions:

• Enhanced discrimination sensitivity can be achieved through training that includes varied processing fluency.
• Alternating fluency training mitigates response biases in recognition tasks, suggesting a more nuanced role for fluency in memory judgments.