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bioRxiv · 10.1101/190355

Structural priming is supported by different components of non-declarative memory: Evidence from priming across the lifespan

Heyselaar, E.·Wheeldon, L.·Segaert, K.
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Abstract

Structural priming is the tendency to repeat syntactic structure across sentences and can be divided into short-term (prime to immediately following target) and long-term (across an experimental session) components. This study investigates how non-declarative memory could support both the transient, short-term and the persistent, long-term structural priming effects commonly seen in the literature. We propose that these characteristics are supported by different subcomponents of non-declarative memory: Perceptual and conceptual non-declarative memory respectively. Previous studies have suggested that these subcomponents age differently, with only conceptual memory showing age-related decline. By investigating how different components of structural priming vary across the lifespan, we aim to elucidate how non-declarative memory supports two seemingly different components of structural priming. In 167 participants ranging between 20 and 85 years old, we find no change in short-term priming magnitude and performance on perceptual tasks, whereas both long-term priming and conceptual memory vary with age. We suggest therefore that the two seemingly different components of structural priming are supported by different components of non-declarative memory. These findings have important implications for theoretical accounts of structural priming.

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Heyselaar, E., Wheeldon, L., Segaert, K.. 2017-09-19. Structural priming is supported by different components of non-declarative memory: Evidence from priming across the lifespan. https://doi.org/10.1101/190355

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