Lively, B. L. (1972). The von Restorff effect in short-term memory. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 93(2), 361-366.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/h0032501
Used a probe technique to investigate the von Restorff effect in the short-term memory of 40 male undergraduates. Isolation was produced at different list positions by embedding consonants among digits and digits among consonants. As predicted, performance on the item following the isolated item was superior to performance on an appropriate control item and the isolated item appeared less often as an intrusion. Contrary to predictions, the isolated item was not recalled with greater frequency than the control item, and performance on items other than the isolated item and its immediately following item was not superior to comparable portions of control lists. Results are interpreted in terms of stimulus recognition. (20 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)