How Dynamic Maps Are Structured in Memory: Event Segmentation and Animation Effects

Dynamic thematic maps visualize how issues develop over time and space, but require the viewer to structure them for efficient understanding. Drawing on Event Segmentation Theory, two preregistered online experiments (N = 278 each) examined how animation style (stepwise vs. continuous) and event boundaries influence order and recognition memory for insect-population maps. Across animation styles, temporal order memory showed an asymmetric boundary effect: frame pairs before a global turning point were remembered less accurately than pairs spanning or following the boundary. Continuous animations elicited fewer and less synchronized boundaries but yielded higher recognition accuracy than stepwise animations.These findings show that animation design, through event structure, influences memory for dynamic maps, with smoother animations tending to better support memory.