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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 15, 2026

Examining Recall Memory in Infancy and Early Childhood Using the Elicited Imitation Paradigm

Examining Recall Memory in Infancy and Early Childhood Using the Elicited Imitation Paradigm

Published on: April 28, 2016

Context in memory is reconstructed based on retrieval questions.

Jeremy Gardette^1,2, Christine Bastin^3,4

¹GIGA Research, CRC Human Imaging, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium. j.gardette@uliege.be.

Communications Psychology

|July 13, 2026

Summary

Context in memory is reconstructed, not simply encoded. Even when objects are irrelevant, they can influence memory recall, demonstrating the dynamic nature of context reconstruction.

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A Real-world What-Where-When Memory Test

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Last Updated: Jul 15, 2026

Examining Recall Memory in Infancy and Early Childhood Using the Elicited Imitation Paradigm

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Published on: April 28, 2016

Using Practice Testing, Public Speaking, and Source Monitoring to Examine the Influences of Learning Strategies and Stress on Episodic Memory

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Published on: June 14, 2019

A Real-world What-Where-When Memory Test

A Real-world What-Where-When Memory Test

Published on: May 16, 2017

Area of Science:

Cognitive Psychology
Neuroscience
Memory Research

Background:

Traditionally, focal objects are treated as items and background scenes as context in memory research.
A contrasting hypothesis suggests context is actively reconstructed, not passively encoded.
This implies any event aspect can function as item or context based on retrieval cues.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate whether context is reconstructed rather than encoded.
To examine the role of focal objects and background scenes in memory retrieval.
To test the flexibility of item and context roles in memory.

Main Methods:

Utilized a context reinstatement paradigm across six experiments.
Manipulated the task relevance of focal objects and background scenes during encoding.
Assessed memory performance by reinstating original stimuli during retrieval tests.

Main Results:

Reinstating focal objects enhanced memory for targets and lures when background scenes were the focus of the memory test.
This effect persisted even when background scenes were task-irrelevant and focal objects were task-relevant during encoding.
The influence of focal objects on memory retrieval was modulated by their size and salience relative to background scenes during encoding.

Conclusions:

Evidence supports the hypothesis that context is reconstructed during memory retrieval, not solely encoded.
The flexibility of context reconstruction is influenced by stimulus properties and their salience at encoding.
This challenges traditional item-context memory models and highlights dynamic memory processes.