Incidental memory for the color-word association in the Stroop color-word test

Incidental memory for the association between color word and print color in the Stroop color-word test was examined. Subjects received either color or neutral words in various print colors or color words in black with a color patch below. Subjects named the color or the word aspect of each stimulus. For all conditions, the color-word association was held constant across trials. After naming one aspect of each stimulus, subjects were tested for their memory of the association between that aspect and the unnamed one. Subjects required more time to name the print color of color words than to perform the other event-naming tasks, and word naming was faster than color naming. Naming the print color yielded higher incidental retention of the color-word association than did naming the color patch or the word. Slowing the pace for word naming increased retention of the association. These results are discussed in relation to current models of the Stroop effect.