Encoding specificity and nonverbal cue context: An expansion of episodic memory research

Recent memory research on encoding specificity suggests that cues from encoding conditions can play a significant role in retrieval processes. The two studies reported here broaden support for this claim by demonstrating the ability of nonverbal contextual cues to act as retrieval mechanisms for co‐occurring language. The results of the recall and recognition tests in this research suggest that visual contextual cues such as speech primacy and motor primacy gestures can access linguistic target information. Motor primacy cues have a greater encoding elaboration potential, however, and thus can act as stronger retrieval cues.