Integrating actions into object location memory: a benefit for active versus passive reaching movements

We tested whether learning the mapping between objects and their locations is better when actively moving the hand to these locations, to reveal the object, compared to when the hand is passively moved by a robotic manipulandum. Recall of object locations was more accurate in the active compared to passive condition. We also found that recall was less accurate when participant made active movements that were not directed to the object locations. These results indicate that the well-established active exploration advantage for spatial memory extends to location memory for objects within reach. Such active learning is likely important for manipulation tasks.