On the pictorial properties of visual images: Effects of image size on memory for words.

In 4 experiments 82 university students formed mental images of pairs of named objects touching and interacting in some way. On half of the trials, one member of the pair was imaged such that it was at a small subjective size; on the remaining half of the trials, both objects were imaged at normal relative sizes. Ss rated their images in terms of vividness. Results of an unexpected memory test presented after all the items had been rated reveal poorer recall of words encoded as smaller images. This result was not due to differences in imaginal relations between the imaged objects in the 2 conditions, nor was it due to greater ease in constructing images including a reduced member. In addition, pairs including a subjectively tiny image were rated as less vivid than pairs including images only of normally sized objects. A regression analysis indicated that the memory deficit was due to size per se and was not a consequence of differences in vividness induced by the size manipulation. (French summary) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)