An example of implicit priming involves presenting a person with a narrative about a picnic—mentioning nature, a blanket, and a meal—which serves as a contextual prime. When subsequently asked to unscramble letters that could form multiple words, the individual is significantly more likely to form the word 'plate'. This demonstrates how the initial picnic-related information unconsciously influences their response to the later task.

Example of Implicit Priming: Picnic Word Scramble

This example illustrates how a contextual prime influences outcomes. If an individual first reads a passage about gardening, such as, 'Some people really enjoy growing flowers. They love going outside to their garden, fertilizing their plants, and watering their flowers,' they are more likely to form the word 'petal' instead of 'plate' when asked to unscramble letters that could form either word. The gardening narrative primes the concept of 'petal', making it more accessible.

Example of Implicit Priming: Garden Word Scramble

In a study, participants are divided into two groups. Group A reads a passage describing a visit to a dentist, mentioning chairs, lights, and tools. Group B reads a passage about a carpenter building a cabinet, also mentioning tools. Afterwards, both groups are shown the word fragment 'D R _ _ L' and asked to say the first full word that comes to mind. A significantly higher number of participants in Group A say 'DRILL' (referring to a dental tool) compared to Group B. Which statement best analyzes the cognitive process responsible for this outcome?

Implicit priming is a form of implicit memory where exposure to one stimulus influences a response to a subsequent stimulus without conscious awareness. This effect occurs because the initial stimulus activates associated concepts within an individual's semantic network, making those related concepts more accessible for later tasks.

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* Procedural memory
* Associative memory
* Non-associative memory 
* Priming

Types of Implicit Memory

According to the theory by Collins & Loftus (1975), long-term memories are structured in semantic, or associative, networks. These networks consist of interconnected concepts, with the connection strength determined by the frequency of their association. The specific organization of these networks is unique to each individual, as they are shaped by personal experiences.

Semantic Networks in Long-Term Memory

- Camina, E., Güel, F. (2017). The Neuroanatomical, Neurophysiological and Psychological Basis of Memory: Current Models and Their Origins. Front. Pharmacol. 8:438. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2017.00438

- Kreitzer, A. C. (2009). Physiology and pharmacology of striatal neurons. Annu. Rev. Neurosci. 32, 127–147. doi: 10.1146/annurev.neuro.051508.135422

- Spielman, R. M, et. al. (2020). Psychology 2e. OpenStax.

- Mackintosh, J. N. (1999). Classical and instrumental conditioning. Encyclopedia Britannica.

- McLeod, S. A. (2018, August 21). Classical conditioning. Simply Psychology. www.simplypsychology.org/classical-conditioning.html

References for implicit memory

Spielman, R. M., Jenkins, W. J., & Lovett, M. D. (2020, April 22). Psychology (2nd ed.). OpenStax. https://openstax.org/books/psychology-2e/pages/1-introduction

OpenStax Psychology (2nd ed.) Textbook

Associative memory is the unconscious retrieval and storage of information through association with other information. Associative memory can be acquired through two different learning processes: 

- Classical conditioning
- Operant conditioning

Associative memory

Non-associative memory is learning that occurs when a behavior toward a stimuli changes without the presence of any associated stimulus or event; in contrast to associative memory, no direct connection is made between stimuli and a respective response. There are two important processes of non-associative memory:

- Habituation
- Sensitization

Non-associative memory

Procedural memory is a type of implicit memory that stores information on how to perform skilled actions, such as riding a bicycle or driving a car. These skills are acquired through practice and repetition, gradually transitioning from conscious, deliberate actions to automatic behaviors. Once learned, these procedural memories are difficult to articulate verbally; an individual can perform the skill proficiently but often cannot explain the exact steps involved in the process.

Procedural Memory

Implicit Priming

Within the context of memory, concepts are the fundamental units that make up semantic networks. They function as categories or groupings for various types of information, including linguistic data, images, ideas, and personal memories like life experiences.

Concepts in Memory Organization

Concepts within a person's semantic network are thought to be organized in a hierarchical structure. However, this arrangement is not rigid and can be influenced by an individual's unique experiences and level of expertise in different areas.

Hierarchical Arrangement of Concepts

The common association between 'peanut butter' and 'jelly' serves as an example of priming. When an individual is prompted with the term 'peanut butter,' the concept of 'jelly' is primed and becomes more easily retrievable. This occurs because of the strong, frequently reinforced link between these two concepts within a person's semantic network.

Peanut Butter and Jelly as an Example of Priming

Spreading activation is the cognitive process where activating one concept in a semantic network triggers the activation of closely associated concepts. This partial activation makes related information easier to recall. For instance, reading about a 'picnic' primes the concept of 'plate' because they are linked in the semantic network. Similarly, reading about 'flowers' primes the concept of 'petal'. This mechanism explains many priming effects.

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