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Updated: Jun 21, 2026
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The (Spatial) Memory Game: Testing the Relationship Between Spatial Language, Object Knowledge, and Spatial Cognition
Published on: February 19, 2018
The effect of visuo-spatial organisation in recognition-memory tasks.
Laura Petrini1, Kristian Hennings, Lars Arendt-Nielsen
1Center for Sensory-Motor Interaction, Aalborg University, DK 9220 Aalborg, Denmark. lap@hst.aau.dk
Perception
|August 11, 2009
Summary
Recognition memory is faster and more accurate for spatial information (where) compared to verbal (what) or combined (what/where) tasks. Spatial arrays specifically benefit spatial memory recognition.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Neuroscience
- Human Memory
Background:
- Recognition memory performance can be influenced by stimulus organization.
- Visuo-spatial arrays may impact different memory systems.
- Understanding memory processes aids in cognitive function analysis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of visuo-spatial array organization on recognition memory.
- To compare performance across verbal (what), spatial (where), and combined (what/where) memory tasks.
- To determine if spatial arrangement benefits recognition memory.
Main Methods:
- Assessed recognition memory speed and accuracy in 20 male volunteers.
- Utilized three tasks: verbal, spatial, and combined (what/where).
- Stimuli were presented in a 3x3 grid, testing recognition from sequences of one or three items.
Main Results:
- Participants were faster and more accurate in the spatial (where) task than verbal (what) or combined (what/where) tasks.
- Spatial arrays specifically enhanced recognition for the spatial task.
- Verbal and combined tasks showed no significant benefit from spatial array presentation.
Conclusions:
- Spatial organization primarily benefits spatial memory recognition, not verbal or combined memory.
- Independent memory processes likely underlie these task-specific benefits.
- Hemifield asymmetry suggests lateralized cognitive functions in spatial memory.
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