Drawing improves memory: The importance of multimodal encoding context

Abstract

Memory is critical to the human experience, and more than a century of empirical work has been devoted to understanding its function and various means by which it can be strengthened. This literature has uncovered a long list of encoding techniques that reliably improve memory and yet little is known about the driving cognitive processes that are common to these techniques. To better understand how these diverse encoding techniques might enhance memory, we examine the mnemonic benefits of drawing, along with several related encoding techniques. Specifically, in two experiments, we disassembled drawing into a few of its component parts – elaborative, motoric, and pictorial – to systematically measure whether (1) memory is improved simply by adding information from additional modalities, and (2) particular components might be more influential to memory. We found that not all components are equal, and that the addition of active aspects – most prominently motoric information - substantially enhanced long-term retention. Together, our findings demonstrate the beneficial outcomes of including multiple distinct cognitive processes or sensory modalities during encoding. Moreover, our work highlights the potential role of these sources in improving memory, and points toward drawing as a fruitful path for applications in everyday life and in educational settings.