Thread by @jordwynn

Our new preprint showing that eye movements can support memory retrieval by reinstating or “pattern completing” encoded representations from partial memory cues during mnemonic discrimination. Continue for more details.

biorxiv.org/content/10.110…

We computed the similarity between gaze patterns during encoding and retrieval as an index of mnemonic reinstatement. In this case, retrieval consists of visualization while “looking at nothing” following the brief presentation of a partially-occluded image cue.

The idea is that retrieval of a previously encoded image should be accompanied by eye movements to parts of the screen that were visited during the original encoding of that image or the similar lure image…

In fact participants do “pattern complete” incomplete test probes by reinstating the eye movements they made during encoding. This gaze reinstatement is greater for old test images compared to lure test images.

Even more interesting is that when cued with a lure image, reinstating one’s eye movements from encoding of the similar image increases the chance of falsely endorsing that image as old.

So eye movements not only support the retrieval of old memories (see mdpi.com/2411-5150/3/2/…), but can also contribute to false memories by reactivating erroneous content from memory.