Body posture facilitates retrieval of autobiographical memories

Findings were shorter when body positions during prompted retrieval of autobiographical events were similar to the body positions in the original events than when body position was incongruent, and free recall was more accurate in younger adults than in older adults in the congruent condition.

Abstract

We assessed potential facilitation of congruent body posture on access to and retention of autobiographical memories in younger and older adults. Response times were shorter when body positions during prompted retrieval of autobiographical events were similar to the body positions in the original events than when body position was incongruent. Free recall of the autobiographical events two weeks later was also better for congruent-posture than for incongruent-posture memories. The findings were similar for younger and older adults, except for the finding that free recall was more accurate in younger adults than in older adults in the congruent condition. We discuss these findings in the context of theories of embodied cognition.