Repetition priming in simple addition depends on surface form and typicality

Repetition priming and recognition memory for numbers were measured in four experiments using single-digit addition. Results of the first two experime nts indicate that when numbers were presented as number words and dot confi gurations, preexposure of the same problem in the same notation produced gr eater reaction-time benefit than did preexposure of the same problem in Ara bic-digit notation. In contrast, when numbers were presented as Arabic digi ts, preexposure of the same problem in Arabic digit, number word, and dot n otation produced the same amount of priming. In the third experiment, primi ng was shown to be greatest, for all three notations, when the task perform ed on preexposure trials (addition or multiplication) matched the task perf ormed on repetition trials (addition). Results of the fourth experiment, me asuring recognition memory, were comparable to the priming results in the s ense that memory was superior when notation matched across repetitions if t he test involved number words and dot configurations but not Arabic digits. These data are interpreted in terms of models of numerical cognition, and they support the hypothesis that the influence of surface form on repetitio n priming depends on the typicality of the input for the task.