Long-term recognition memory for items and attributes by retarded and nonretarded persons

Long-term memory (LTM) differences between retarded and nonretarded persons were assessed. These persons studied a picture book following semantic or nonsemantic encoding instructions, and recognition tests for the pictures (items) and their locations were given immediately, 1 day, and 1 week later. Semantic encoding instructions facilitated memory for items in retarded, but not in nonretarded persons. Under these conditions, the two groups were equally accurate in LTM for items. However, under nonsemantic encoding instructions, retarded subjects and poorer memory for items than did nonretarded subjects. Memory for the location of an item was not affected by encoding instructions or intelligence level. A comparison between attribute and item memory showed that LTM for an attribute is forgotten more rapidly than memory for the item itself.