On the Effect of Bilateral Eye Movements on Memory Retrieval in Ageing and Dementia

Abstract

It has been reported that performing bilateral eye movements for a short period can lead to an enhancement of memory retrieval and recall (termed the “saccade induced retrieval effect (SIRE)”). The source of this effect has been debated within the literature and the phenomenon has come under scrutiny as the robustness of the effect has recently been questioned. To date investigations of SIRE have largely been restricted to younger adult populations. Here, across two experiments, we assess the robustness and generalisability of the SIRE specifically in relation to disease and ageing. Experiment 1 employed a between subject’s design and presented younger and older participants with 36 words prior to completing one of three eye movement conditions (bilateral, antisaccade or a fixation eye movement). Participants then performed a word recognition task. Experiment 2 assessed the SIRE in individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, Mild cognitive impairment and Parkinson’s by employing an online within subject’s design. Results showed no significant difference between groups in the number of words recognised based on eye movement condition. Neither experiment 1 or 2 replicated the SIRE effect therefore the findings from this study add to the growing number of studies that have failed to replicate the SIRE effect.

Differences Between Consistent and Inconsistent Handedness Remain Consistently Interesting: Ten Years of Research on the Consistency of Handedness With the Edinburgh Handedness Inventory

“…While some studies have failed to replicate a memory improving effect of eye movements (e.g., Polden & Crawford, 2022), the metanalyses conducted by Qin et al (2021) found moderate effect sizes across published studies (Cohen's d = .45). There are several important things to note about these findings.…”

“…For example. Polden and Crawford (2022) used an estimated effect size of .495 (already larger than Qui et al’s metaanalysis effect size of .45) to determine a sample size of sufficient statistical power. However, sufficient power has frequently been assumed to be .80, meaning that researchers were willing to accept up to a 20% chance that a real effect would not be detected.…”

Novel Approaches to Memory and Aging: The Editorial

“…One group of studies investigated the possible contributions of specific stimuli, training protocols, and recognized effects to the enhancement of memory retrieval and/or recall. In particular, across two experiments, Polden and Crawford [ 4 ] reported no memory retrieval enhancement effects for the “saccade-induced retrieval effect” (SIRE) in both normal and pathological aging, highlighting the SIRE effect’s apparent lack of strength. On the contrary, both curiosity [ 5 ] and affective information [ 6 ] may affect information processing by improving memory for trivia answers and incidental memory for unrelated faces, simplifying information processing by both prioritizing positive information and de-prioritizing negative information, respectively.…”