Features of stimuli and responses are assumed to be temporarily integrated into so-called event files that can be retrieved upon repetition of any of their features and, consequently, influence behavior. Event files seem to decay within a few seconds, based on the finding that their behavioral after-effects are weaker after long as compared with short intervals between event file formation and retrieval.
In the presented experiment (N = 223), participants were either instructed to memorize the stimulus identity (memorizing group) or not (control group) of the S1 in an S1R1–S2R2 task. Event file binding was measured by means of partial-repetition costs (in response times and errors); event file decay was analyzed by comparing partial-repetition costs between trials with short (500 ms) and long (5,000 ms) R1-S2 intervals. To manipulate maintenance of S1 stimulus information, participants in the memorizing group had to answer a forced-choice task concerning S1 stimulus identity after R2 responding. There was no such task in the control group.
Partial repetition costs were generally smaller after long as compared with short R1-S2 intervals. When S1 stimulus information had to be memorized, partial repetition costs were present in both intervals. However, without an instruction to memorize, partial repetition costs in error rates occurred in short intervals only.
In sum, there is some evidence that memorizing of features included in an event file mitigates the decay of this event file. Consequences for the interplay among event file binding and retrieval, attention, and working memory are discussed.