Bizarreness effect

Bizarreness effect is the tendency of bizarre material to be better remembered than common material.^[1] However, scientific evidence for its existence is contested; some research suggests it does exist, some suggests it doesn't and some suggests it in fact worsens recollection.^[2]

Causes

McDaniel and Einstein argue that bizarreness intrinsically does not enhance memory in their paper from 1986. They claim that bizarre information becomes distinctive. It is the distinctiveness that according to them makes encoding easier.^[3]

See also

• Flashbulb memory
• Mnemonic aid
• Von Restorff effect