Implicit and explicit memory for familiar and novel objects presented to touch

Two experiments examined implicit and explicit memory for familiar and unfamiliar objects presented haptically. Experiment 1 showed substantial priming for real world objects using a speeded naming task. Furthermore, priming was not affected by changes in the mode of exploration (with gloves or without gloves) from study to test. In contrast, explicit memory assessed by a recognition test was impaired when such a change occurred. Experiment 2 showed implicit memory for unfamiliar wooden objects when priming was evaluated with a symmetry judgment task. Structural encoding but not elaborative encoding produced priming whereas explicit memory was enhanced under elaborative encoding. These findings suggest similarities between memory for objects in vision and touch.