Yanxin Yu

Topic

Precise Gaze Reinstatement Enhances Memory Precision

Department of Psychology

Date & location

• Friday, July 31, 2026

• 10:00 A.M.

• Clearihue Building, Room B021

• Virtual Defence

Reviewers

Supervisory Committee

• Dr. Jordana Wynn, Department of Psychology, University of Victoria (Co-Supervisor)

• Dr. Tarek Amer, Department of Psychology, UVic (Co-Supervisor)

• Dr. Jim Tanaka, Department of Psychology, UVic (Member) 

External Examiner

• Dr. Natalia Ladyka-Wojcik, Department of Psychology, University de Quebec en Outaouais 

Chair of Oral Examination

• Dr. Kirstin Lane, School of Exercise Science, Physical and Health Education, UVic 

Abstract

Eye movements during memory retrieval often recapitulate those made during encoding - a phenomenon known as gaze reinstatement. Previous research has observed a link between gaze reinstatement and memory performance. However, it remains unclear whether gaze reinstatement plays a functionally causal role in memory retrieval. In the present study, young adults encoded sequences of mono-coloured shapes placed along an invisible circle. They subsequently performed a colour memory test on half of the items, in which they were instructed to select the encoded colour for each tested shape from a colour wheel, while their gaze was manipulated within 0°-30° from each shape’s original encoded location on the invisible circle. Gazing closer to the original encoded location predicted more accurate retrieval of the associated colour, supporting a functionally causal role for gaze reinstatement in memory retrieval. Additionally, participants manually moved each of the remaining shapes from the center of the screen to its original encoded location without gaze manipulation. In line with the colour memory results, gaze reinstatement during retrieval was associated with location memory. Finally, the strength of the relationship between gaze reinstatement precision and colour memory accuracy did not depend on individual memory ability, as indexed by the location memory test. Taken together, the present study provides evidence that precise recapitulation of encoding-related gaze patterns facilitates precise memory retrieval.