Evidence for the use of three-way binding structures in associative and source recognition

Avoiding interference among similar memory traces may be helped by forming complex memory structures that include multiple components of the event. In a laboratory setting, these structures have been studied through list learning paradigms, where the pairs in one list are swapped in another list (i.e., ABABr condition), and one has to form a memory structure that includes items and context together (i.e., three-way binding). However, despite the long history of the theoretical concept, and its importance, three-way bindings have only been examined in recall paradigms. Moreover, not all memory models consider the ability to form three-way binding structures as a default. The current study, therefore, examined the use of three-way binding structures in associative and source recognition. Results indicate that three-way binding structures are used during recognition, thus challenging memory models that are not capable of representing such structures.