NAME: Samantha Fox
 

PROJECT TITLE: Encoding of Location Information: Automatic or Effortful?

Memory for events and experiences from our lives is known as episodic memory. Hasher and Zacks (1979) have suggested that episodic memory can be divided into two types, memories that required our attention (effortful) and memories that form automatically. They further suggested that location information may be automatically encoded, however, the data on that has not been completely consistent. In an earlier study, Neal (2004) found evidence that location of one’s own location was automatically encoded but there was some suggestion that the memory was not long lasting. In the proposed study we will test whether one’s own location and that of other people in a group is automatically encoded and whether the memory is temporary or relatively permanent. Automatic processes are supposed to (1) occur without intention or awareness, (2) are not supposed to improve with attention, (3) and should not interfere with other mental processes. This experiment will have an impact on improving the memory’s function and abilities. It could also impact the forensic psychology field by increasing credibility of some aspects of eye-witness accounts, .e.g., the location of a vehicle before and accident.