Effect of Conceptual Metaphors on Memory: A Preliminary Study on the Visual and Auditory Recalling

Abstract

In this study, we examined the relationship between conceptual metaphor and recalling. For this purpose, 3 metaphorical and 3 equivalent non-metaphorical short texts were produced in 2 visual and auditory versions, and 47 participants were exposed to the short-term and long-term recalling immediately after reading/listening to the texts and one week later. Results indicated that in some cases, it is a metaphorical one that has been recalled better than its non-metaphorical equivalent in both short-term memory and long-term memory. This finding can be interpreted as evidence of the possible facilitative role of conceptual metaphors in memorization.