关键词: 记忆, 遗忘, 隐喻, 垂直空间, 有意遗忘

Abstract:

This study explored the metaphorical relationship between memory-forgetting and vertical space through four experiments. Experiment 1 found that there was a metaphorical connection between memory-forgetting concepts and vertical space by a forced-choice paradigm. Experiment 2 found that the recall of the upper word was better than the lower word when participants were asked to memorize words randomly presented on the upper or lower of the screen. Experiment 3 and 4 used the directed forgetting paradigm to activate the vertical space and memory-forget attributes respectively, by manipulating the material presentation and response modes that were consistent or inconsistent with metaphors in the encoding and retrieval stages. It was found that the presentation direction of material was more likely to affect the memory result, and the forgetting attributes of the material was more likely to affect pressing keys’ speed in different orientations. The results suggest that there is psychological reality of “memory is up, forgetting is down”. The mapping between memory-forgetting and vertical space is bidirectional and unbalanced.

Key words: memory, forgetting, metaphor, vertical space, directed forgetting