Eye Movements Actively Reinstate Spatiotemporal Mnemonic Content

Abstract

Eye movements support memory encoding by binding distinct elements of the visual world into coherent representations. However, the role of eye movements in memory retrieval is less clear. We propose that eye movements play a functional role in retrieval by reinstating the encoding context. By overtly shifting attention in a manner that broadly recapitulates the spatial locations and temporal order of encoded content, eye movements facilitate access to, and reactivation of, associated details. Such mnemonic gaze reinstatement may be obligatorily recruited when task demands exceed cognitive resources, as is often observed in older adults. We review research linking gaze reinstatement to retrieval, describe the neural integration between the oculomotor and memory systems, and discuss implications for models of oculomotor control, memory, and aging.

The intersection between the oculomotor and hippocampal memory systems: empirical developments and clinical implications

“…Specifically, questions remain regarding whether changes in visual exploration, such as those seen in aging, are merely a behavioral reflection of hippocampal dysfunction, such that increased sampling behavior is a marker of the increased effort required to properly extract sufficient information and support the development of a lasting representation, or whether altered viewing patterns reflect a (perhaps unconscious) attempt to leverage the oculomotor system to upregulate, and compensate for, a declining hippocampal system. When considering the findings from Liu and colleagues that showed an age‐related increase in visual exploration in the face of decreased hippocampal engagement, we suggest that eye movements not only passively reveal the contents of memory, but they may also be a mechanism for actively supporting memory encoding and retrieval, mediated through the vast neural architecture that connects the two systems …”

“…Whether eye movements have a functional role at retrieval, or the influence of memory on the pattern of visual exploration at retrieval is merely epiphenomenal, is an open question . We have proposed that eye movements play a functional role at retrieval by generally reinstating the broad spatiotemporal encoding context in accordance with task demands and available cognitive resources ( gaze reinstatement ) . That is, eye movements are not simply another example of an effector system that passively reflects the outcome of memory retrieval, such as is the case with a button press or verbal response.…”

“…As reviewed in more detail by Wynn and colleagues, evidence shows that viewers tend to recapitulate the spatial locations and temporal order of encoded content during subsequent viewings, including during recall of memories in the absence of visual input (i.e., looking at nothing), when memory is merely being searched, and even during internally generated thought or problem‐solving . The manner by which such gaze reinstatement occurs—that is, repeating patterns of visual exploration across space and time—in turn, facilitates access to, and reactivation of, associated details from memory.…”

“…This information then likely provides a set of predictions or expectations for the priority map of oculomotor control to guide further sampling behavior, causing an iterative, continuous cycle of gaze and memory reinstatement . Note that the notion of gaze reinstatement put forth by Wynn et al . suggests that it may not occur in all cases of memory retrieval and/or be related to memory performance, and indeed, gaze reinstatement is not observed in all paradigms, nor does it necessarily relate to memory performance in every instance (see Ref.…”

“…suggests that it may not occur in all cases of memory retrieval and/or be related to memory performance, and indeed, gaze reinstatement is not observed in all paradigms, nor does it necessarily relate to memory performance in every instance (see Ref. for review). Specifically, gaze reinstatement may aid in memory retrieval when the demands of the task exceed available cognitive resources (i.e., when information cannot be held online or within the confines of working memory) and/or when performance critically requires access to hippocampally mediated relational memory .…”