Rethinking Repetition: Selective Scanpath Recapitulation Supports Mnemonic Performance on a Change Detection Task

Stimulus repetition improves processing efficiency and performance on a variety of mnemonic tasks. When images are successfully retrieved from memory, the accompanying pattern of fixations or "scanpath" is highly similar to that elicited during encoding. However, it remains unclear how scanpath repetition promotes efficiency gains on goal-directed tasks. The present study used eye-movement monitoring to test the predictions of scanpath theory against a repeated change detection task. Fixations at repeated-viewing were highly similar to first and final novel- viewing fixations, suggesting that speeded search results from a strategic collapsing of the encoding scanpath based on goal-productivity of novel-viewing fixations. Moreover, older adults repeated more initial encoding fixations than younger adults, designating a specialized role for memory in repetition of the recognition sequence. Results support and extend theories of eye- movement-based repetition effects to account for efficiency gains on change detection as a function of goal-relevance and memory.M.A.2019-11-27 00:00:0