Masked target priming effects on feeling-of-knowing and feeling-of-familiarity judgments.

The present study tested whether the same processes underlie recognition memory based on feeling-of-familiarity on the one hand and feeling-of-knowing (FOK) judgments made to unrecalled items on the other. Five experiments compared the effects of masked priming of targets in the memory tests. Masked priming increased recognition judgments based on feeling of familiarity (KNOW responses) but not those accompanied by conscious recollection (REMEMBER responses). The same masked priming procedure enhanced cued recall accuracy and FOK judgments made to recalled items but not for recall failures. These results are interpreted as indicating that the metamemory monitor subserving FOK does not have privileged access to unconscious information, and that FOK is based on partial products of retrieval.