Enhancing free-recall rates of individuals with mental retardation

Generative encoding contexts promote activation of multiple retrieval routes and have been shown to enhance free-recall rates of individuals without mental retardation (Soraci et al., 1994, 1999). The present extension to individuals with mental retardation involved a comparison of two encoding conditions: (a) fade-in, initially presenting pictures out of focus then slowly fading them into focus, and (b) fade-out, presenting pictures clearly then slowly blurring them. Results indicated that free-recall rates were greater for the fade-in items for the individuals with mental retardation and CA-matched comparisons, but not for the MA-matched group. These findings demonstrate the utility of a generative encoding context that does not involve verbal instruction for individuals with and without mental retardation.