Exploring the memory advantage for moving scenes

Abstract

Recognition memory is better for moving images than for static images (the dynamic superiority effect), and performance is best when the mode of presentation at test matches that at study (the study–test congruence effect). We investigated the basis for these effects. In Experiment 1, dividing attention during encoding reduced overall performance but had little effect on the dynamic superiority or study–test congruence effects. In addition, these effects were not limited to scenes depicting faces. In Experiment 2, movement improved both old–new recognition and scene orientation judgements. In Experiment 3, movement improved the recognition of studied scenes but also increased the spurious recognition of novel scenes depicting the same people as studied scenes, suggesting that movement increases the identification of individual objects or actors without necessarily improving the retrieval of associated information. We discuss the theoretical implications of these results and highlight directions for future investigation.

Keywords:

• Attention
• Dynamic superiority effect
• Image reversal
• Moving scenes
• Scene memory
• Similarity

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by ESRC grant RES-000-22-2694. We thank Steve Avons for helpful discussion, and James Brockmole and two anonymous reviewers for their comments.