University Honors

Spatial memory, the ability to encode and recall information about an environment, plays an important role in everyday tasks such as locating objects and navigating space. Object-location memory, a component of spatial memory, involves remembering both what an object is and where it is located. Although strategies such as storytelling have been suggested to support memory, and video game experience has been linked to enhanced spatial cognition, it remains unclear how these factors interact. This study examined whether gaming experience is associated with differences in object-location memory performance within a fictional narrative condition. Participants (N = 40) watched a narrative-based video in a Minecraft environment in which an avatar located objects, and then completed the Minecraft Memory and Navigation Task-2 (MMN-2), which assessed object accuracy, spatial location accuracy, and object-location binding. Results showed that Gamers demonstrated significantly higher object accuracy and spatial location accuracy compared to Non-Gamers, indicating stronger performance in remembering objects and their locations. However, no significant differences were observed in object-location binding or perceived mental effort. These findings suggest that gaming experience is associated with advantages in simpler components of spatial memory, but not in more complex integrative processes. As the study examined only a single narrative-based condition, conclusions cannot be drawn about the effectiveness of storytelling itself. Ultimately, the results indicate that prior experience influences spatial memory performance and that different components of memory are affected in distinct ways.