The Effects of Cue Familiarity on Episodic Memory, Scene Construction, and Imagining the Future by Jessica Robin A thesis submitted in conformity with the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts Graduate Department of Psychology University of Toronto © Copyright by Jessica Robin 2011 The Effects of Cue Familiarity on Episodic Memory, Scene Construction, and Imagining the Future Jessica Robin Master of Arts Graduate Department of Psychology University of Toronto 2011 Abstract Recent research has revealed many similarities between episodic memory, scene construction, and imagination of the future. It has been suggested that scene construction is the common process underlying memory and imagination, but no study to date has directly compared all three abilities. The present study compared retrieval time, ratings of detail and vividness for episodic memories, remembered scenes and imagined future events cued by landmarks of high and low familiarity. Memories, scenes, and imagined episodes based on a more familiar landmark as a cue were more quickly retrieved, more detailed, and more vivid. This study was the first to demonstrate the effects of frequent encounters with a cue on memory, scene construction and imagination of the future. Additionally, consistent results across conditions, as well as stronger effects in the scene construction condition, provide further evidence of a possible interdependence of episodic memory, imagination of the future, and scene construction. ii Acknowledgments I wish to thank Roxana Florica for her help with the transcription and coding of the interviews, and Marilyne Ziegler for her assistance in the design and programming of the experiment. I‟d also like to thank the members of the Moscovitch lab for their help and advice, and the members of my committee, Gordon Winocur and Cheryl Grady, for their thoughtful questions and comments. Finally, I‟m very grateful to my supervisor, Morris Moscovitch, for his continued guidance, support and insightful commentary. iii Table of Contents Acknowledgments ......................................................................................................................... iii Table of Contents ............................................................................................................................ iv List of Figures ................................................................................................................................. vi List of Appendices .........................................................................................................................vii 1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 1 2 Methods .................................................................................................................................... 12 2.1 Participants ........................................................................................................................ 12 2.2 Pre-study Questionnaire..................................................................................................... 12 2.3 Study Procedure ................................................................................................................. 13 2.3.1 Episodic Memory Condition ................................................................................. 14 2.3.2 Scene Construction Condition ............................................................................... 15 2.3.3 Imagination of the Future Condition ..................................................................... 15 2.3.4 Post-Study Interviews ............................................................................................ 16 3 Results ....................................................................................................................................... 18 3.1 Inter-rater Reliability ......................................................................................................... 18 3.2 Episodic Memory Condition ............................................................................................. 18 3.2.1 Retrieval Time ....................................................................................................... 18 3.2.2 Detail and Vividness Ratings ................................................................................ 19 3.2.3 Interview Details .................................................................................................... 20 3.2.4 Order Effects .......................................................................................................... 20 3.3 Scene Construction Condition ........................................................................................... 21 3.3.1 Retrieval Time ....................................................................................................... 21 3.3.2 Detail and Vividness Ratings ................................................................................ 21 3.3.3 Interview Details .................................................................................................... 21 iv 3.4 Imagination of the Future Condition ................................................................................. 22 3.4.1 Retrieval Time ....................................................................................................... 22 3.4.2 Detail and Vividness Ratings ................................................................................ 23 3.4.3 Interview Details .................................................................................................... 24 3.5 Cross-Condition Comparisons ........................................................................................... 25 4 Discussion ................................................................................................................................. 26 References...................................................................................................................................... 34 Figures ........................................................................................................................................... 39 Appendices .................................................................................................................................... 45 v List of Figures Figure 1. Representation of one trial in the episodic memory condition of the experiment. Order of slides and duration is indicated in the upper left corner of each frame. Figure 2. Retrieval Time. a) Mean retrieval time (in seconds) for memories, scenes, and imagined events based on high and low familiarity landmarks. Error bars indicate the standard error of the mean for each group. b) Mean retrieval time (in seconds) for memories based on high and low familiarity landmarks, in the group of participants below the median retrieval time, and the group above the median retrieval time. Error bars indicate the standard error of the mean for each group. Figure 3. Detail and Vividness Ratings. a) Mean ratings of detail (on a 1-5 scale) for memories, scenes, and imagined events based on high and low familiarity landmarks. Error bars indicate the standard error of the mean for each group. b) Mean ratings of vividness (on a 1-5 scale) for memories, scenes, and imagined events based on high and low familiarity landmarks. Error bars indicate the standard error of the mean for each group. Figure 4. Number of Interview Details. a) Mean number of details described per memory, scene, and imagined event based on high and low familiarity landmarks. Error bars indicate the standard error of the mean for each group. b) Mean number of details described per imagined event based on high and low familiarity landmarks, in the group of participants below the median number of details, and the group above the median number of details. Error bars indicate the standard error of the mean for each group. Figure 5. Magnitude of differences across high and low familiarity landmarks. a) Mean magnitude of difference in detail ratings across high and low familiarity landmarks, across memory, scene and imagination conditions. Error bars represent standard error of the mean for each group. b) Mean magnitude of difference in vividness ratings across high and low familiarity landmarks, across memory, scene and imagination conditions. Error bars represent standard error of the mean for each group. c) Mean magnitude of difference in number of interview details described across high and low familiarity landmarks, across memory, scene and imagination conditions. Error bars represent standard error of the mean for each group. vi List of Appendices Appendix A. Full list of Toronto landmarks used in study. Appendix B. Interview coding guide. vii 1 1 Introduction Throughout any given day, many of our waking hours are spent thinking of a time other than the present. From remembering where the car is parked, or envisioning what to cook for dinner, to a certain song reminding us of a friend‟s party years ago, or a glance through the calendar sending us day-dreaming about next year‟s vacation plans, our present is constantly filled with reminders of the past and musings of the possible future. Memory for the past and imagination of the future may seem like very different functions. One allows us to relive real experiences from our past, recalling the sights, sounds and other sensory information that we once actually experienced.