The method of loci in the context of psychological research: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Abstract

This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate (1) the effectiveness of the method of loci (MoL) in enhancing recall in adults, (2) its underlying cognitive mechanisms, and (3) its neurobiological correlates. Studies on adult populations were included from multiple databases. Risk of bias was assessed, and the GRADE approach and RoBMA_PSMA were used for qualitative and quantitative synthesis. The MoL showed strong evidence for a large effect on immediate serial recall compared with rehearsal (d = 0.88, 95% CI [0.47, 1.25], P(M|data) = 0.994, BF = 161.94) in adult populations. Its general effectiveness is supported by multiple cognitive mechanisms, all of which align with the levels of processing framework. Neuroimaging studies have shown consistent activation of brain regions primarily associated with spatial memory and navigation - namely, the hippocampus, parahippocampus, and retrosplenial cortex. MoL training also induces structural and functional brain changes. However, the evidence is rated as low to very low quality, mainly due to the high risk of bias and other limitations. The MoL is a powerful mnemonic for enhancing recall in adults, grounded in robust cognitive and neural mechanisms, though more rigorous studies are needed.