Schema-based predictive eye movements support sequential memory encoding
Abstract
When forming a memory of an experience that is unfolding over time, we can use our schematic knowledge about the world (constructed based on many prior episodes) to predict what will transpire. We developed a novel paradigm to study how the development of a complex schema influences predictive processes during perception and impacts sequential memory. Participants learned to play a novel board game ('4-in-a-row') across six training sessions, and repeatedly performed a memory test in which they watched and recalled sequences of moves from the game. We found that participants gradually became better at remembering sequences from the game as their schema developed, driven by improved accuracy for schema-consistent moves. Eye tracking revealed that increased predictive eye movements during encoding, which were most prevalent in expert players, were associated with better memory. Our results identify prediction as a mechanism by which schematic knowledge can improve episodic memory.
Data availability
All the data is openly available through https://osf.io/29cpg/
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Schema-based predictive eye movements support sequential memory encodingDOI 10.17605/OSF.IO/29CPG.
Article and author information
Author details
Funding
Columbia University (Graduate Student Fellowship)
- Jiawen Huang
Columbia University (start-up funding)
- Christopher Baldassano
The funders had no role in study design, data collection and interpretation, or the decision to submit the work for publication.
Ethics
Human subjects: The experimental protocol was approved by the Institutional Review Board of Columbia University. (AAAS0252) All participants were over 18 years of age with normal or corrected-to-normal vision, and gave informed consent.
Copyright
© 2023, Huang et al.
This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License permitting unrestricted use and redistribution provided that the original author and source are credited.
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