Are memories containing multiple sensory modalities better remembered than single-modality ones?

Human memory remains mysterious, but one thing is clear: it is inherently multisensory. Just as the scent of a madeleine famously transported Marcel Proust into vivid recollections, our everyday experiences—like seeing an old photograph or hearing a familiar tune—can trigger a cascade of sensory-rich memories about the past. Despite most memory studies are performed in one single sensory modality at a time, a growing body of research in human cognitive science and neuroscience has suggested that experiences engaging multiple senses are remembered better than those involving just one. If confirmed, this multisensory memory enhancement hypothesis could have important implications—for example, informing the design of more effective teaching strategies and improving programs aimed at cognitive protection in both healthy and pathological aging. But are the educational and clinical communities ready to integrate this insight into everyday practice? Together with Prof. Charles Spence, from Oxford University, we have critically assessed and synthesized the last three decades of research on the topic, covering short-term and episodic memory. By and large, the central question has been whether or not memories for events with crossmodally congruent semantic attributes are better remembered. Nevertheless, this research area has been characterized by mixed methodological approaches, inconsistent outcomes, and alternative theoretical interpretations, with few attempts at synthesis. We identify key gaps in knowledge and theory, to help attribute between fundamentally different competing accounts and the underlying brain mechanisms.This article has appeared in Psychological Review, one of the highest regarded journals for research synthesis in the field of psychology.