Visual symbols differ in the extent to which they evoke bodily actions associated with their referents. This property, known as Body-Object Interaction (BOI), has been shown to enhance conceptual processing and memory under incidental learning conditions. Yet, it remains unclear whether such embodied influences similarly affect intentional learning, and whether their impact depends on the symbolic characteristics of the stimuli.


The present study aims to examine how BOI and symbol type jointly influence recognition memory under intentional encoding. Japanese participants will complete a within-subject experiment crossing BOI with two types of symbols (Pictograms, Ideograms). During the study phase, participants will intentionally memorize a set of visual symbols for a later memory test. After a short filler task, they will perform a two-alternative forced-choice recognition test, in which each studied symbol is paired with a novel foil matched for BOI and symbolic type.


Recognition accuracy will be analyzed using sensitivity indices (d') derived from signal detection theory, and response times will be examined to assess retrieval fluency. The study is expected to provide insights into whether action-related properties and symbolic abstraction interact to shape intentional memory for visual symbols.


By comparing pictograms and ideograms differing in embodiment, this research seeks to clarify the role of sensorimotor grounding in deliberate symbolic learning. The findings will contribute to a better understanding of how bodily experience supports the acquisition and retention of visual-semantic representations, and will inform the design of educational materials and visual interfaces that rely on symbolic communication.