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

摘要：

通过4个实验探究记忆、遗忘与垂直空间之间的隐喻关系。实验1采用迫选法发现记忆、遗忘概念与垂直方位存在隐喻联结。在实验2中，对随机呈现在上方或下方的单字识记发现上方字回忆量优于下方字。实验3、实验4采用有意遗忘范式分别在编码和提取阶段启动垂直方位和记忘属性发现，材料呈现方位更易影响记忆结果，而材料的遗忘属性更易影响不同方位的按键速度。结果表明，记忆与遗忘的垂直空间隐喻具有心理现实性，具体为：“上”表征记忆，“下”表征遗忘，其映射方式是双向的、不平衡的。

关键词: 记忆, 遗忘, 隐喻, 垂直空间, 有意遗忘