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How Semantic and Perceptual Information Shape Object Memorability

Poster Session C - Sunday, March 8, 2026, 5:00 – 7:00 pm PDT, Fairview/Kitsilano Ballroom

Rosa E. Torres¹ (), Karen L. Campbell¹, Stephen M. Emrich¹; ¹Brock University

Some images are better remembered than others, but the factors that make certain images more memorable remains unclear. Previous research suggests that these differences in memorability cannot be solely explained by perceptual features, suggesting semantic information plays a crucial role. However, even among real-world objects that are rich in semantic content, item memorability varies greatly, raising the question of whether high memorability objects rely on semantic information differently to low memorability items. This experiment examines how semantic and perceptual information contribute to object memorability and whether the neural dynamics of processing semantic vs perceptual information differ between high and low memorability items. To address this, participants completed an associative memory task with images varying in perceptual (line drawing vs photograph) and semantic aspects (objects typically found inside vs outside a house). Following the paradigm and analysis approach of Linde-Domingo and colleagues (2019), EEG data are being analyzed using clustering methods to determine the temporal sequence of the neural activity associated with semantic and perceptual processing during image recall. Specifically, we aim to identify the peaks that correspond to maximal neural differences in four comparisons: photographs vs. line drawings (i.e., perceptual features) and indoor vs. outdoor (i.e., semantic features) for each high and low memorability image. These clusters will reveal the time course of accessing perceptual and semantic information to contribute to image recall. We predict that highly memorable objects will evoke earlier semantic-related ERP clusters compared to low memorability objects, indicating faster recruitment of semantic information during recall.

Topic Area: PERCEPTION & ACTION: Vision