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The eyes of the past: larger pupil size for autobiographical memories retrieved from field perspective

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Abstract

Background

Visual perspective during memory retrieval has mainly been evaluated with methodologies based on introspection and subjective reports. The current study investigates whether visual perspective can be evaluated with a physiological measurement: pupil dilation.

Methods

While their pupil diameter was measured with an eye-tracker, forty-five participants retrieved one memory from a field perspective (i.e., as viewed through our own eyes) and one memory from an observer perspective (i.e., as viewed from a spectator’s standpoint). After retrieval, participants rated the emotional intensity of the memories.

Results

Analysis demonstrated larger pupils during the retrieval of memories from a field perspective and higher emotional intensity for memories retrieved from a field perspective.

Discussion

The larger pupils for memories recalled from a field perspective could, however, not be attributed to their higher emotional intensity. These findings suggest that pupil dilation could be used as a physiological assessment of visual perspective during memory retrieval.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nantes Université, Univ Angers, Laboratoire de Psychologie des Pays de la Loire (LPPL - EA 4638), F-44000, Nantes, France

    Mohamad El Haj & Frederique Robin

  2. Unité de Gériatrie, Centre Hospitalier de Tourcoing, Tourcoing, France

    Mohamad El Haj & Karim Gallouj

  3. Institut Universitaire de France, Paris, France

    Mohamad El Haj

  4. University of Nottingham Malaysia, Semenyih, Malaysia

    Steve M. J. Janssen

  5. Univ. Lille, CNRS, CHU Lille, UMR 9193 - SCALab - Sciences Cognitives et Sciences Affectives, F-59000, Lille, France

    Quentin Lenoble

  6. Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, U1172 - LilNCog - Lille Neuroscience & Cognition, F-59000, Lille, France

    Quentin Lenoble

Authors
  1. Mohamad El Haj
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  2. Steve M. J. Janssen
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  3. Quentin Lenoble
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  4. Frederique Robin
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  5. Karim Gallouj
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Correspondence to Mohamad El Haj.

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El Haj, M., Janssen, S.M.J., Lenoble, Q. et al. The eyes of the past: larger pupil size for autobiographical memories retrieved from field perspective. Neurol Sci 43, 661–666 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-021-05297-w

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-021-05297-w

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