Roles of colors and spatial locations in picture memory: Sex differences

Kazunori Morikawa (Otaru University of Commerce) and Bartlett W. Mel (University of Southern California)
2003 VSS abstract

Effects of color on picture recognition memory were investigated, using 240 color photographs of rooms. In the learning phase, subjects were shown 60 color photos and 60 gray scale photos, 5 seconds each. After a 30-minute delay, the testing phase began, in which 120 old photos and 120 new photos were presented, one at a time. In Experiment 1, half of the old color photos were rendered gray scale, and half of the old gray scale photos were given back color. Recognition performance was best for C/C, and became lower for G/G, C/G, and G/C in this order. Experiments 2 & 3 examined whether representations of colors in memory are tied to representations of spatial locations. In the testing phase, half the old color and old gray scale photos were left-right reversed. Recognition for unaltered color photos was better than recognition for unaltered gray scale photos. For gray scale photos, reversal had no effect on recognition. However, reversal of color photos resulted in decreased recognition only in males, not in females. These results suggest that, in the memory of males, representations of colors are tied to representations of spatial locations. The male memory system seems to rely on spatial configuration of colors. On the other hand, the female memory system seems to rely on representations of objects independent of their spatial locations. To the extent that scene recognition is mediated by view-point invariant object recognition, females may be immune to left-right reversal.