Incubated reminiscence effects

Abstract

Reminiscence, the recall of material that was not successfully recalled on a previous attempt, was examined in three experiments as a function of the intertest (incubation) interval. Incubation intervals inserted between successive recall tests resulted in increased reminiscence, but the effect was seen primarily in the first retested minute. Neither the duration of the initial test (1–4 mm), nor the incubation activity (maze problems vs. rest) affected this incubated reminiscence effect. The results support models in which recall tests cause output interference, but incubation intervals reduce it.