Gaze position enhances memory accessibility during competitive memory retrieval

• While previous research has demonstrated that gaze position can increase the accessibility of previous memories (Johansson & Johansson, 2014), the present study tested whether such gazes can assist in selecting target memories at the expense of competing memories. An adapted retrieval practice paradigm was used, where participants engaged in repeated selective retrieval while looking at locations that either overlapped with the target memory’s encoding location or with a competitor’s encoding location. Encoding-retrieval overlap in gaze positions resulted in reduced activation of competitors, as evidenced by the elimination of retrieval induced forgetting for non-practiced items in the succeeding test phase. Corroborating evidence from pupil size measures indicate that overlapping gaze positions during retrieval practice reduce the need for inhibitory control mechanisms.

Ämnesord

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Psykologi (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Psychology (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

memory

eye Movements

retrieval-induced forgetting

pupillometry

visual attention

Publikations- och innehållstyp

kon (ämneskategori)

ref (ämneskategori)