Architectural Rhythms Modulate Episodic Memory Encoding and Recall

The built environment shapes not only how we move but also how we remember. While architectural rhythm is widely acknowledged as an aesthetic principle, little is known about its influence on cognition, specifically memory. This study investigated whether rhythmic spatial configurations affect episodic memory performance. Using Virtual Reality, human participants (N = 128) completed a paired-associate learning task in environments with either rhythmic or arrhythmic architectural features. Participants were tested across immediate recall, delayed recall, free recall, and recognition, with encoding and retrieval contexts systematically varied. Results revealed that rhythmic environments enhanced encoding performance in male participants and acted as contextual cues for recall across genders. Performance was consistently higher when encoding and recall occurred in the same environment, extending classic findings on context-dependent memory to fine-grained architectural features. Exploratory analyses further suggested that upbringing environment through self-reported city complexity may shape sensitivity to spatial rhythms. These findings highlight architectural rhythm as a contextual cue for memory, suggesting that the built environment can influence episodic memory processes even in the absence of movement.