Visual object imagery and autobiographical memory: Object Imagers are better at remembering their personal past

Abstract

In the present study we examined whether higher levels of object imagery, a stable characteristic that reflects the ability and preference in generating pictorial mental images of objects, facilitate involuntary and voluntary retrieval of autobiographical memories (ABMs). Individuals with high (High-OI) and low (Low-OI) levels of object imagery were asked to perform an involuntary and a voluntary ABM task in the laboratory. Results showed that High-OI participants generated more involuntary and voluntary ABMs than Low-OI, with faster retrieval times. High-OI also reported more detailed memories compared to Low-OI and retrieved memories as visual images. Theoretical implications of these findings for research on voluntary and involuntary ABMs are discussed.

Keywords:

• Mental imagery
• Visual object imagery
• Autobiographical memory
• Involuntary memories

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

We thank Maria Giovanna Bonadio for her help in the pilot phase of this work.

DISCLOSURE STATEMENT

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

¹ Compared to Schlagman and Kvavilashvili (2008), we employed a longer presentation time and a reduced number of cues to make the task more effective. A previous study (Vannucci, Pelagatti, et al., 2014) had shown that few cues are indeed more effective than many cues in eliciting involuntary ABMs. As for the presentation time, we decided for 3 sec on the bases of pilot data (n = 10), showing that 3 sec were more effective than 1.5 sec.

² In the present study we selected only a subsample of the italian adaptation of the standardized pool of 800 word-phrases developed by Schlagman and Kvavilashvili (2008). In particular we selected only word-phrases rated as concrete and familiar (rating 5–7). The majority of these words was neutral and only a few of them were positive or negative. As a further check, we re-analysed the data taking into account only neutral cues and the results did not change, suggesting that no substantive bias could have been introduced by the emotional valence of the cues.

³ Participants received instructions on how to identify a general and a specific memory. As in previous studies on involuntary ABMs (see Berntsen, 1996, 1998; Berntsen & Hall, 2004), participants were told that a remembered situation could take two forms, specific and general.

A specific memory refers to a single episode/event that could be allocated a specific time and place in the past and that had lasted less than a day. Examples were provided (e.g. “yesterday when you went shopping in the x store” or “that particular day when your dog ran away when you took it for a walk”).

A general memory refers to a generalised representation that summarises the properties of many similar events (e.g. “going shopping in the x store” or “walking in the woods”). General memories might refer to either extended events that lasted for a longer period of time (e.g., a holiday on the mountains) or repeated events (e.g., using the bus to go to work; going to the beach every summer during childhood). All participants were able to provide correct examples of specific and general memories.

⁴ Classification of mental contents as memories or other mental contents (thoughts) was done relatively easily and quickly.