The effect of perceptual and personal memory retrieval on story comprehension

Abstract

This study focused on the relationship between personal perceptual memory and story comprehension. In two experiments, participants read story texts. Half the participants were asked to retrieve highly vivid perceptual memories (Exp. 1) or autobiographical memories as highly perceptual and personal memories (Exp. 2) before reading a story, and the other half were asked to retrieve less vivid perceptual memories, as a control task, before reading. Results showed that participants read more slowly under the highly perceptual memory retrieval condition only when their experiences were relatively similar to the experiences depicted in the story. Additionally, similarity between story content and participants' experiences was positively correlated with enjoyment of the story in both experiments. We interpreted the results as indicating that individuals are involved in emotional processes when they are able to integrate their own perceptual memories into the story content. Personal perceptual memory also appeared to contribute to story comprehension.