Eye gaze patterns reveal how reasoning skills improve with experience.

ABSTRACT: Reasoning, our ability to solve novel problems, has been shown to improve as a result of learning experiences. However, the underlying mechanisms of change in this high-level cognitive ability are unclear. We hypothesized that possible mechanisms include improvements in the encoding, maintenance, and/or integration of relations among mental representations - i.e., relational thinking. Here, we developed several eye gaze metrics to pinpoint learning mechanisms that underpin improved reasoning performance. We collected behavioral and eyetracking data from young adults who participated in a Law School Admission Test preparation course involving word-based reasoning problems or reading comprehension. The Reasoning group improved more than the Comprehension group on a composite measure of four

SUBMITTER: Guerra-Carrillo BC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6220245 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature