Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 14, 2026
05:15
The (Spatial) Memory Game: Testing the Relationship Between Spatial Language, Object Knowledge, and Spatial Cognition
Published on: February 19, 2018
The memory metaphors held by ordinary people: an exploratory study
Igor Sotgiu1, Alessandra Zagato2, Luca Negri3
1Department of Human and Social Sciences, University of Bergamo, Bergamo, Italy.
Memory (Hove, England)
|August 13, 2026
Summary
This study explored how people understand memory using metaphors, finding that common choices like "store" or "computer" reflect personal beliefs and experiences. These findings highlight how everyday language shapes our perception of memory.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Psychology of Memory
Background:
- Metaphors are frequently employed in cognitive psychology to convey complex ideas.
- Understanding naïve psychology, or people's intuitive beliefs, is crucial for cognitive research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically investigate the naïve psychology of human memory metaphors.
- To identify the most common memory metaphors used by the general population.
- To explore the personal motives and influencing factors behind metaphor selection.
Main Methods:
- Surveyed 846 adults in Northern and Central Italy.
- Utilized four self-report questionnaires on favorite memory metaphor, memory beliefs, autobiographical memory, and metamemory.
- Employed multinomial logistic regressions to analyze influencing variables.
Main Results:
- The most endorsed memory metaphors were store, camera, computer, and map.
- Personal motives for choosing metaphors varied significantly.
- Sociodemographic and psychological factors (e.g., age, education, memory satisfaction) influenced metaphor choice.
Conclusions:
- Certain metaphors better align with laypeople's attributed characteristics and functions of human memory.
- Naïve memory metaphors are influenced by individual differences and personal experiences.
- This research provides insights into how ordinary people conceptualize memory through metaphorical language.
Related Concept Videos
01:23Mnemonic Devices
Mnemonic devices are cognitive tools that facilitate memory retention by linking new information to familiar patterns or organizational strategies. These techniques are beneficial for remembering complex or lengthy sets of information by simplifying and structuring them in easily retrievable ways.
Acronyms
Acronyms are created by using the initial letters of a series of words to form a new word or phrase. This approach condenses complex information into a single, memorable entity. For example,...
Acronyms
Acronyms are created by using the initial letters of a series of words to form a new word or phrase. This approach condenses complex information into a single, memorable entity. For example,...
01:23Storage
A schema is a mental framework that helps individuals organize and interpret information. Schemata, formed from previous experiences, influence how we process new information: how we encode it, the inferences we make, and how we retrieve it. For instance, a schema for what a typical classroom looks like might include desks, a teacher's desk, a whiteboard, and students in such an environment. This expectation helps us quickly understand and navigate new classrooms without needing to analyze each...
01:27Explicit Memories
Explicit memories, also known as declarative memories, are consciously remembered, recalled, and reported. Studying for a chemistry exam involves material that will become part of explicit memory. There are two types of explicit memory: episodic and semantic.
Episodic memory contains information about personally experienced events and is reported as a story. An example of episodic memory is recalling a birthday celebration. This type of memory includes the what, where, and when of an event, as...
Episodic memory contains information about personally experienced events and is reported as a story. An example of episodic memory is recalling a birthday celebration. This type of memory includes the what, where, and when of an event, as...
01:19Understanding Memory
Memory is the retention of information or experiences over time, facilitated through three main processes: encoding, storage, and retrieval. Encoding is the process of inputting information into the memory system. For instance, when listening to a lecture, watching a play, reading a book, or having a conversation, the brain is actively encoding information. This initial stage involves transforming sensory input into a form that can be processed and stored by the brain. Various factors, such as...
01:14Autobiographical Memory
Autobiographical memory is a unique type of episodic memory that involves recollecting personal life experiences. It allows individuals to remember significant events from their past, creating a narrative of their lives. One interesting phenomenon related to autobiographical memory is the reminiscence bump. This effect refers to the tendency of adults to recall more events from their second and third decades of life — typically between ages 10 to 30 — than from other periods. This period is...
01:18Long-Term Memory
Long-term memory is a relatively permanent type of memory, capable of storing vast amounts of information over extended periods. Its storage capacity is generally considered unlimited.
Long-term memory can be categorized into two primary types: explicit and implicit memory. Explicit memory, also known as declarative memory, involves the conscious recollection of information that we deliberately try to remember, recall, and articulate. This type of memory encompasses specific facts, events, and...
Long-term memory can be categorized into two primary types: explicit and implicit memory. Explicit memory, also known as declarative memory, involves the conscious recollection of information that we deliberately try to remember, recall, and articulate. This type of memory encompasses specific facts, events, and...