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Article published In: Cognitive Linguistic Studies
Vol. 12:2 (2025) ► pp.377–405

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Can frame-semantic congruence enhance incidental memory for food labels?

ORCiD logo with link | Bern University of Applied Sciences
ORCiD logo with link | University of Zurich
Published online: 10 November 2025
DOI logo with link
https://doi.org/10.1075/cogls.23018.joh
Abstract
Although it is well-documented in the literature that semantic congruence positively impacts memory in general and incidental memory in particular, it is unknown whether this effect extends to frame-semantic congruence. The primary objective of this study was to reveal whether frame-semantic congruence has a positive effect on incidental memory. This was an experimental study using a timed judgment task and a subsequent free recall task. 248 participants judged 30 food labels — of which 2 were frame-semantically congruent and 2 were frame-semantically incongruent, and the rest were distractors — with regard to their realness as quickly as possible. Next, participants listed as many of the items from the timed judgment task as possible in a free recall task. A Poisson mixed model showed no significant effects of frame-semantic (in)congruence on memorability of food labels. However, a McNemar’s test showed a significant difference between the two frame-semantically congruent food labels: crispy chips significantly outperformed crunchy lettuce, a pattern which was also observed in the reaction times. Frame-semantically congruent food labels may enhance incidental memory when applied to some but not all types of foods. However, this remains to be corroborated by further studies.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Methods
    • 2.1Participants
    • 2.2Tasks
      • 2.2.1Timed judgment task
        • 2.2.1.1Practice round
        • 2.2.1.2Real experiment
      • 2.2.2Free recall task
    • 2.3Procedure
    • 2.4Data analysis
  • 3.Results
    • 3.1Overall recall
    • 3.2Recall for congruent stimuli
    • 3.3Overall reaction time
    • 3.4Reaction time for congruent stimuli
  • 4.Discussion
    • 4.1Summary and interpretations
    • 4.2Implications
    • 4.3Recommendations for future research
    • 4.4Limitations
  • 5.Conclusion
  • Notes
  • References
References (74)
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