Visual object priming differs from visual word priming: An ERP study

Implicit memory is inferred from repetition priming effects in tasks such as word identification, word fragment completion, and perceptual recognition with masking or brief exposures. In this experiment, we explored whether the visual word and object repetition priming effects can be reflected by features of ERP and whether visual word repetition priming differs from visual object repetition priming. We have observed that (1) pre-exposure to recognizable stimuli (both word and object picture) shortened the response time in identifying their repetitions; (2) repetition of unrecognized scrambles of words or object pictures did not show any effects on ERP patterns; (3) ERPs distinguished recognizable from unrecognizable stimuli; and, (4) repetitions of both words and pictures strongly influenced the patterns of ERPs, though the ERPs to word stimuli differed from the ERPs to picture stimuli.