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On the relationship between trait autobiographical episodic memory and spatial navigation

Authors :
Brian Levine
Hervé Abdi
Carina L. Fan
Source :
Memory & Cognition. 49:265-275
Publication Year :
2020
Publisher :
Springer Science and Business Media LLC, 2020.

Abstract

Influential research has focused on identifying the common neural and behavioural substrates underlying episodic memory (the re-experiencing of specific details from past experiences) and spatial cognition, with some theories proposing that these are supported by the same mechanisms. However, the similarities and differences between these two forms of memory in humans require further specification. We used an individual-differences approach based on self-reported survey data collected in a large online study (n = 7,487), focusing on autobiographical episodic memory and spatial navigation and their relationship to object and spatial imagery abilities. Multivariate analyses replicated prior findings that autobiographical episodic memory abilities dissociated from spatial navigational abilities. Considering imagery, episodic autobiographical memory overlapped with imagery of objects, whereas spatial navigation overlapped with a tendency to focus on spatial schematics and manipulation. These results suggest that trait episodic autobiographical memory and spatial navigation correspond to distinct mental processes.

Details

ISSN :
15325946 and 0090502X
Volume :
49
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
Memory & Cognition
Accession number :
edsair.doi.dedup.....fb46168a0fab0dd965fb3d33c7372c1b
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.3758/s13421-020-01093-7