Priming

Priming refers to the faciliatory processing effects of repeating a stimulus or a task. This ubiquitous phenomenon is of interest to memory researchers because its encoding and retrieval dynamics are both similar to and different from many other forms of learning examined in this volume. This chapter explores one specific domain of priming that has been extensively studied in the memory literature, namely that which occurs when one identifies or classifies a stimulus repeatedly-referred to as long-term repetition priming. This chapter reviews the mechanisms proposed for the faciliatory effects seen in priming. As the chapter explores each proposed mechanism, it will become clear to the reader that no explanation captures all aspects of priming completely, and as such, it is likely that multiple mechanisms may be working in parallel, with their relative impact on behavior highlighted by the goals of the observer and the context of retrieval. This perspective is captured in the proposed adaptive learning system model of long-term repetition priming.