Incidental Memory Recall in Virtual Reality: An Empirical Investigation

Abstract

Modern virtual reality technologies increase the immersive experience for users. Increased immersivity may affect how users perceive, internalize, and thus, recall information about the virtual environment and experience compared to traditional mediums, such as desktop simulations. One critical aspect of recalling information is incidental memory, which refers to the ability for people to recall information they were unaware was relevant for evaluation. This paper investigates the differences of incidental memory recall between (i) immersive virtual reality and (ii) traditional desktop systems. Fifty-two participants completed a series of tasks within identical virtual environments of the two systems and completed an incidental memory recall questionnaire testing their recall of elements within the virtual world. Results found no significant difference in incidental memory recall between immersive virtual reality and traditional desktop conditions. However, when controlling for gaming experience and gender effects significant differences between groups were found.

Virtual reality experiences promote autobiographical retrieval mechanisms: Electrophysiological correlates of laboratory and virtual experiences

“…Importantly, previous studies found that a high degree of presence aids memory recall: For example, both intentional encoding, as well as incidental encoding in a VE resulted in a more accurate memory recall as compared to conventional desktop conditions (e.g. Krokos, Plaisant & Varshney, 2019;Ernstsen, Mallam & Nazir, 2019). Hence, presence might facilitate encoding processes constituting the VR memory superiority effect (Makowski,Sperduti,Fig.…”

“…Initial studies of memory processes under immersive VR conditions found that retrieval of VR experiences is not only enhanced compared to the retrieval of conventional laboratory micro-events (see e.g. Serino & Repetto, 2018;Smith, 2019;Schöne et al, 2016, Schöne et al 2019Krokos, Plaisant, & Varshney, 2019;Ernstsen, Mallam & Nazir, 2019;Harman, Joel, Brown, Ross & Johnson, 2017), but also provides a closer approximation to real-life memory processes (Schöne et al, 2016;Schöne et al 2019;Kisker et al, 2019b). In particular, a previous study found evidence that immersive VR experiences become part of an extensive autobiographical associative network, whereas conventional video experiences remain an isolated episodic event (Schöne et al, 2019).…”

The reality of virtual reality

“…Against the background of VR memory studies ( Harman et al, 2017 ; Ernstsen et al, 2019 ; Krokos et al, 2019 ; Schöne et al, 2019 ; Smith, 2019 ; Kisker et al, 2020 , 2021b ), the comparison 3 days later is more informative. A common phenomenon comparing retrieval success for VR and conventional PC experiences is that immersive experiences are remembered with higher accuracy.…”

Library for universal virtual reality experiments (luVRe): A standardized immersive 3D/360° picture and video database for VR based research

“…A field of research, which could benefit from luVRe is research on autobiographical memory. Especially immersive media seem to aid free recall (Ernstsen et al, 2019;Harman et al, 2017;Ventura et al, 2019) as it is the mode of retrieval of autobiographical memory and commonly used for research on unique, lifelike events (Oedekoven et al, 2017). Concludingly, VR combines the best of two worlds: Firstly, the enhanced realism of immersive simulations facilitates more naturalistic processing.…”

“…Current VR studies focus on objects, meaning that participants are asked to recall objects they previously encountered in a virtual environment (Kisker et al, 2019b;Krokos et al, 2019;Ouellet et al, 2018;Sauzéon et al, 2012). Previous studies on memory in VR have found an enhanced retrieval rate under more realistic conditions (Ernstsen et al, 2019;Harman et al, 2017;Krokos et al, 2019;Schöne et al, 2019;Smith, 2019), although it should be noted the effect does not always occur (Kisker et al, 2019b;LaFortune & Macuga, 2016;Lorenz et al, 2018). That is remarkable as the vividness of VR should unanimously amplify the relevance of information extracted from the surroundings.…”