Vantage point in episodic memory.

Full Abstract

University undergraduates undertook a series of manual tasks (e.g., shaping objects out of clay) and later recalled the experiences they had while doing so from either afield or an observer vantage point. In the former case, the subjects mentally reinstated the original task environment as if they were seeing it again through their own eyes; in the latter condition, the original task environment was envisioned from the perspective of a detached spectator. Analysis of the subjects' recollections revealed marked differences in the contents of field and observer memories. For instance, whereas field memories afforded richer accounts of the affective reactions, physical sensations, and psychological states that the subjects experienced as they performed the tasks, observer memories included more information about how the subjects looked, what they did, or where things were. Discussion focuses on prospects for future research whose aim would be to investigate the forensic and clinical implications of the field/observer distinction.

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Author information

Author/s: McIsaac, Heather K (HK); Eich, Eric (E);

Affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada. mcisaac(-atsign-)interchange.ubc.ca

Grants: F31-MH11846 (Agency:United States NIMH) ; R01-MH59636 (Agency:United States NIMH)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

Journal: Psychonomic bulletin & review (Psychon Bull Rev), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2002-Mar; vol 9 (issue 1) : pp 146-50

Dates: Created 2002/05/24; Completed 2002/11/19; Revised 2007/11/14;

PMID: 12026947, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 11/6/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adult
Female
Humans
Male

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