UC Riverside

Spatial memory and navigation are critical for learning and interacting within complex environments, yet less is known about tools and conditions that support specific processes involved in the encoding and organization of large-scale spatial information. The present study investigated whether fictional story could serve as a cognitive structuring tool to support object-location memory in a large-scale virtual environment. A total of 120 undergraduate students completed the Minecraft Memory and Navigation (MMN) task and were randomly assigned to a fictional story, non-fictional narrative, or silent condition during passive route learning. Outcomes included object accuracy, object sensitivity (d′), spatial location accuracy, and object-location binding accuracy. Results indicated that fictional story did not significantly improve overall spatial memory performance relative to the other conditions. However, a marginal effect emerged for spatial location accuracy, with participants in the fictional story condition demonstrating numerically higher memory for the learned locations. Across analyses, performance was strongly associated with spatial working memory, perspective-taking ability, and prior gaming experience. These findings contribute to a more nuanced understanding of how structured learning conditions may influence large-scale spatial memory processes.