The effect of value on long-term associative memory

It is often impossible to remember everything we encounter. Strategically remembering more valuable information has been demonstrated to be beneficial in optimizing working memory and long-term memory. This thesis explored the conditions under which this value-directed remembering effect could extend to associative memory (i.e., memory for details associated with an item), and explored the possible mechanisms underlying this effect. Chapter 2 explored whether value effects on associative memory (i.e., item-colour binding) would be more reliable when the binding condition between item and associative information is optimised. Across four experiments, it was demonstrated that value effects could be observed on colour memory when colour information is well-integrated with items (i.e., using appropriate study stimuli and encoding instructions), while also confirming previous findings that value indeed has little effect on colour memory when the binding condition is inadequate. Chapter 3 examined the role of attention in this effect. While divided attention (DA) during the encoding phase decreased overall level of performance, it did not impact the ability to strategically encode and briefly maintain high value item-colour bindings. This was consistently observed using the sequential and the simultaneous presentation formats, suggesting selective encoding requires little attentional resources. DA did, however, impair persistence of value effects when items were presented sequentially. Chapter 4 explored the possible encoding strategies that might be driving this value effect. Overall memory performance and the value effect under the no-strategy-instruction condition more closely resembled that using an instructed verbal rehearsal strategy than using an elaborative rehearsal strategy, suggesting maintenance rehearsal is probably the primary encoding strategy driving this effect. Taken together, findings from this thesis indicate that value effects could be observed on memory for associative information, provided it is well-integrated with items. Such effect requires little attentional resources and is probably driven by maintenance rehearsal for more valuable associations.