THE ROLE OF EYE GAZE IN VISUOSPATIAL MEMORY RECALL - an eye-tracking study

Abstract

Research on the connection between eye movements and visuospatial memory has shown that eye movements have a functional role besides visual perception. Because of its predictable patterns during memory recollection, this phenomenon has been called “look-to-nothing”, and it has been hypothesized that the eye gaze is used as an aid to memory. Although several studies have shown and argued for its effect, the evidence for which factors contribute to the mechanism has been inconclusive. In the present study, we investigate if different types of recollection methods induce more or less congruent eye movements, and if these eye movements can predict memory performance. A design of cued recall (simple questions) compared to semi-free recall (describing questions) was used, as participants were recalling information when looking at a blank screen. Complex naturalistic images were used as stimuli. In these conditions, correlational effects between memory performance and eye gaze congruence were also explored, in addition to participants’ self-reported vividness rating of the different conditions. Our results provide novel evidence in this field of research, suggesting that eye movements show more congruence in a cued recall condition compared to free recall. The study found no correlation between memory performance and congruent eye movements.