Self-referential encoding of source information in recollection memory

Self-referential memory encoding has been previously shown to enhance memory. The self-referential facilitation effect has also been found in source memory (memory with contextual details). In this study, we investigated how subjective recollection interacts with the self-referential effect for source memory. Using a remember/know paradigm, we compared source memory accuracy under self-referential encoding and semantic encoding. Two types of source information were included, a “peripheral” source which was not inherent to the encoding activity, and a source information about the encoding context. SRE benefits on source memory accuracy were observed in recollection for both types of source information, but not in familiarity-based memory. In contrast, for familiarity-based memory, semantic encoding resulted in higher source accuracy for the background source compared to self-referential encoding. These results suggest self-referential encoding creates a richer, more detailed memory trace which can be recollected later on.