Eye-movement investigation of relational binding in episodic memory

Eye movements reveal memory for past experience, including how individual elements were associated with the context in which they were encountered (Hannula, Ryan, Trannel, & Cohen, 2007). This phenomenon, known as the preferential viewing effect, manifests rapidly and obligatorily, beginning within a second of presenting test items and peaking just before a response is made. However, little attention has been given in the literature to the factors influencing the magnitude of this effect. In a series of studies, I explore the relationship between the strength of relational memory and the extent of the preferential viewing effect, first, by introducing additional study episodes aimed at enhancing memory for item-scene pairs (Experiment 1), and second, by examining subjective confidence judgments in behavioral responses (Experiment 2). Moreover, inconsistencies exist in the literature regarding the relationship between pupil size fluctuations during learning and subsequent memory outcomes. I address this by investigating how pupil size fluctuations during learning relate to preferential viewing, which I demonstrate in Experiments 1 and 2 reflects the quality of relational binding of items to their context during learning. Finally, the role of viewing behavior during retrieval is a subject of debate in eye tracking and memory research. My approach to this complex issue involved providing evidence that initial viewing behavior indicates orientation to information in the environment consistent with retrieved memory. This body of work reveals that pupil dilations during learning and viewing behavior during retrieval are reflective of the quality of relational binding.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Psychology

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2024

Author dc:creator

• Whitlock, Jonathon S.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Sahakyan, Lili
• Benjamin, Aaron
• Federmeier, Kara
• Hannula, Deborah
• Kragel, James

• Relational Memory
• Memory Strength
• Preferential Viewing
• Eye-movements
• Pupillometry

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2024 Jonathon Whitlock

Language dc:language

en, eng

Handle dc:identifier

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/124256

OAI record oai:identifier

https://www.ideals.illinois.edu/oai-pmh?verb=GetRecord&metadataPrefix=etdms&identifier=oai%3Awww.ideals.illinois.edu%3A2142%2F124256