Maintaining fixation does not increase demands on working memory relative to free viewing.

ABSTRACT: The comparison of memory performance during free and fixed viewing conditions has been used to demonstrate the involvement of eye movements in memory encoding and retrieval, with stronger effects at encoding than retrieval. Relative to conditions of free viewing, participants generally show reduced memory performance following sustained fixation, suggesting that unrestricted eye movements benefit memory. However, the cognitive basis of the memory reduction during fixed viewing is uncertain, with possible mechanisms including disruption of visual-mnemonic and/or imagery processes with sustained fixation, or greater working memory demands required for fixed relative to free viewing. To investigate one possible mechanism for this reduction, we had participants perform a working memory task-an

SUBMITTER: Armson MJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6497038 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature