Perspective matters: When visual perspective reshapes autobiographical memories.

Abstract

Memories are prone to distortions, which have been linked to our unique point of view. Not only do we experience events from a particular visual perspective, we can also retrieve events from one of two perspectives: (a) an own-eyes perspective, from the same viewpoint where the event was initially experienced, and (b) an observer-like perspective, where we might "see" ourselves in the remembered event.The particular visual perspective adopted, as well as the ability to shift between perspectives, is associated with changes in the subjective and objective characteristics of memories, which has led to debate regarding whether the presence of novel perspectives reflects inaccuracies or distortions. In this target article, I will provide an overview of research on visual perspective in memories of events by discussing the circumstances in which adopting an observer-like perspective signals changes in memories that impact their

Feeling episodic: Dimensions of phenomenology in observer memory.

“…It seems that field and observer perspectives involve differences in content, and these differences in content (partially) account for their differences in phenomenology. Perspective, as St. Jacques (2024) notes, shapes and reshapes the felt characteristics of memory, perhaps by representing different aspects of the event (e.g., observer perspectives may represent more objective information compared to field perspectives, which tend to focus on internal states and feelings).…”

“…These ways of understanding how the self may be represented in observer memory, from an (un)occupied point of view, may indicate crucial differences in the phenomenological profile of observer memories. Given that St. Jacques (2024) highlights the possibility that the detached point of view of observer perspectives may be a feature that is encoded in memory rather than simply retrieved, further experimental work may help shed light on the exact nature of how this point of view is encoded.…”

“…One interesting aspect of the imagery of episodic memory is the distinct visual perspectives that can be adopted when remembering the personal past. As Peggy St. Jacques (2024) notes, these distinct perspectives are typically associated with differences in phenomenological profile in episodic recall.…”

“…When we remember events in the personal past, we typically do so with mental imagery (Perrin & Sant’Anna, 2022); various forms of affect, emotions, or feelings (Debus, 2007; Trakas, 2021); as well as more embodied or motor forms of imagery (Sutton, 2010). There are many dimensions to the phenomenology of episodic remembering, including vividness, coherence, and affective aspects (St. Jacques, 2024).…”

“…These visual points of view are known as field and observer perspectives, respectively (Nigro & Neisser, 1983). As St. Jacques (2024) notes in her target article, these distinct perspectives are typically associated with differences in phenomenological profile in episodic recall: Compared to observer perspectives, field perspectives are usually associated with more affect, emotion, and are thought to involve a greater degree of reliving or reexperiencing the event.…”