The impact of preference for interior space design on incidental recognition memory

The extent to which preference shapes memory formation remains debated. Across three experiments, we tested whether preference for images of interior design predicts incidental recognition memory performance, while accounting for individual differences. Stimuli systematically varied in ceiling height, spatial openness, and curvature, design features known to influence preference. In Experiments 1 and 2 (online and laboratory), participants completed preference ratings followed by immediate recognition memory tasks, with individual differences measured via Desire for Aesthetics, Openness to Experience, and Extraversion. While participants reliably preferred rectilinear spaces, these preferences did not enhance immediate recognition memory, likely reflecting a near-ceiling effect in their performance. Experiment 3 addressed this limitation by increasing the number of stimuli, introducing a filler task, and implementing an 8-day delay interval. Here, higher preference and greater distinctiveness significantly predicted recognition memory accuracy, with a marginal moderation such that preference effects were weaker for low ceilings and closed spaces. Together, these findings suggest that preference enhances long-term, but not short-term, recognition memory, and that this effect is modulated by design features and stimulus distinctiveness.