Endel tulving encoding specificity

Memory process-related theory

The encoding specificity principle is the general principle that matching the encoding contexts of information at recall assists in the retrieval of episodic memories.

Endel tulving encoding specificity

It provides a framework for understanding how the conditions present while encoding information relate to memory and recall of that information.^[1]

It was introduced by Thomson and Tulving who suggested that contextual information is encoded with memories which affect the retrieval process.

When a person uses information stored in their memory it is necessary that the information is accessible. The accessibility is governed by retrieval cues, these cues are dependent on the encoding pattern; the specific encoding pattern may vary from instance to instance, even if nominally the item is the same, as encoding depends on the context.

This conclusion was drawn from a recognition-memory task.^[2] A series of psychological experiments wer