Effects of imagery ability and instructions on recall of information on spatial location

The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of ability to image visually and imagery instructions on recall of information on spatial locations. 18 high and 18 low visual-imagers reproduced six spatial locations in each of six conditions of reproduction: immediate reproduction, 10-sec., 20-sec., 30-sec., and 40-sec. unfilled retention intervals and a 30-sec. distraction condition in which subjects performed a competing visualization task. Half of the high and low visual-imagers received instructions to use visual imagery as a retention strategy, while the others received no instructions. Analysis indicated that high visual-imagers reproduced spatial locations with less error than low visual-imagers. In addition, the distraction condition disrupted recall for all subjects. However, instructions for imagery did not influence recall.