Implicit and explicit memory for visual and haptic objects: Cross-modal priming depends on structural descriptions

Previous research on cross-modal priming has used verbal stimuli presented to vision and audition. This study examined whether priming is modality specific and whether there are dissociations between several implicit and explicit memory measures when familiar objects are presented to vision and touch. The experiments showed significant priming between and within modalities. Experiment 1 showed similar presemantic priming between and within modalities. Experiment 2 found robust cross-modal priming using 2 different implicit memory tests: picture-fragment completion and object decision. However, priming was greater when pictures were presented at study and test than when visual or haptic objects were given at study and pictures were shown at test. Conversely, the study of objects haptically or visually enhanced free recall. Experiment 3 found that within- and cross-modal priming were both unaffected by study-test delay. The findings suggest that similar structural descriptions mediate object priming in vision and touch.