Contextual Matching Between Learning and Testing Within VR Does Not Always Enhance Memory Retrieval

Episodic memory is influenced by environmental contexts, such as location and auditory stimuli. The most well-known effect is the reinstatement effect, which refers to the phenomenon where contextual matching between learning and testing enhances memory retrieval. Previous studies have investigated whether the reinstatement effect can be observed within immersive virtual environments. However, only a limited number of studies have reported a significant reinstatement effect using virtual reality, while most have failed to detect it. In this study, we re-examined the reinstatement effect using 360-degree video-based virtual environments. Specifically, we carefully selected virtual environments to elicit different emotional responses, which has been suggested as a key factor in inducing a robust reinstatement effect in the physical world. Surprisingly, we found a significant reversed reinstatement effect with a large effect size. This counter-intuitive result suggests that contextual congruence does not necessarily enhance memory and may even interfere with it. This outcome may be explained by the retrieval-induced forgetting phenomenon, but further exploration is needed. This finding is particularly important for virtual reality-based, educational applications and highlights the need for a deeper understanding of the complex interactions between memory and contextual cues within virtual environments.