Subsequent Memory Effects. Lexical Decision Task Study

The present research investigated feature of subsequent memory effects of high frequency characters and low frequency characters and pseudo-characters and non-characters in lexical decision task. The result provided researches of conditions are required in appearance of subsequent memory effects and its effect factors with some supplements.The results showed the subsequent effects were obtained in high frequency characters and low frequency characters, but the subsequent effects are more extensive brain scalp spatial distribution on head and longer duration for low frequency character. This frequency effects suggests that processing of low frequency character needs more mental energy or that recognition of low frequency characters depends on conscious collection ("remember") more than high frequency character.The results also reveal that there are no subsequent memory effects in pseudo-character. It seems that processing of pseudo-character did not activate preexisted mental representation in memory. Another explanation is that recognition of pseudo-character largely depends on familiarity ("know"). The subsequent memory effect of non-character is larger and longer than that of high and low frequency characters. There is difference in their spatial distribution on head. Non-character includes less orthographical information than pseudo-character, so it is easier to make decide in lexical decision task than pseudo-character and that non-character is decompounded. The later period of processing non-character probably is related with conformity of character components and radicals in Chinese characters. This conformity probably supplied more cues of recognition. Another explanation is that the character frequency of any part in non-character is not controlled.