Abstract
Perceptual versus conceptual priming and level-of-processing effects on implicit memory . The aim of this work was to find experimental support for the distinction between perceptual and conceptual forms of priming, in order to provide a coherent account of the differential levels of processing effects on implicit memory tests. We hypothesized that the level-of-processing variable would have clear effects in conceptual priming tests and minimal or even null effects in perceptual priming tests. Three experiments were carried out in which the variable was manipulated between subjects. Confirming our suggestion, the results showed a crossover dissociation between a perceptual priming test (word-stem completion) and a conceptual priming test (generation of exemplars from categories). Moreover, our results questioned the perceptual nature of the wordfragment completion test. These results are discussed from two theoretical approaches (the multiple memory systems view and the transfer-appropriate processing account) and lend support to the distinction between perceptual and conceptual priming.
