Perceptual interference at encoding enhances item-specific encoding and disrupts relational encoding: Evidence from multiple recall tests

Interfering with perception during encoding can enhance later memory, a phe nomenon known as the perceptual interference effect. This effect is investi gated in the context of the item-specific-relational framework (e.g., Hunt & McDaniel, 1993), which suggests that the perceptual interference enhances item-specific encoding and impedes relational encoding. Two experiments pe rformed with multiple recall tests support this view. Prior research indica tes that item-specific processing increases item gains across tests, wherea s relational processing protects against item losses (e.g., Burns, 1993; Kl ein, Loftus, Kihlstrom, & Aseron, 1989). Consistent with the item-specific- relational framework, perceptual interference produced significant increase s in both item gains and losses relative to a control condition.