Mohamad El Haj1,2,3, Quentin Lenoble4, Ahmed A Moustafa5,6. 1. Laboratoire de Psychologie Des Pays de La Loire, Nantes Université, Univ Angers, LPPL - EA 4638), 44000, Nantes, France. el.haj@hotmail.fr. 2. Clinical Gerontology Department, CHU Nantes, Nantes, France. el.haj@hotmail.fr. 3. Institut Universitaire de France, Paris, France. el.haj@hotmail.fr. 4. Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, U1172 - LilNCog - Lille Neuroscience & Cognition, 59000, Lille, France. 5. School of Psychology, Faculty of Society and Design, Bond University, Queensland, Australia. 6. Department of Human Anatomy and Physiology, The Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: There is a recent interest in pupil dilation during the retrieval of autobiographical memory. We pursued this line of research by measuring pupil diameter during the retrieval of self-defining memories, that is, memories that are highly vivid, emotionally intense, and are retrieved to reflect enduring concerns in a person's life. METHODS: We invited 40 participants to retrieve self-defining memories while their pupil activity was recorder with eye-tracking glasses. We analyzed memories regarding specificity (i.e., specific or general) and emotional valence (neutral, positive, negative, or mixed). RESULTS: Analysis demonstrated larger pupil diameter during the retrieval of specific than general self-defining memories. However, no significant differences in pupil diameter were observed across the four emotional categories of self-defining memories. DISCUSSION: The increased pupil size during retrieval of specific self-defining memories can be attributed to the autonoetic experience during retrieval of these memories and/or to the cognitive load as required to construct these memoires. By investigating pupil dilation during the retrieval of self-defining memories, our study provides an original, ecological, and reliable physiological assessment of these memories.
BACKGROUND: There is a recent interest in pupil dilation during the retrieval of autobiographical memory. We pursued this line of research by measuring pupil diameter during the retrieval of self-defining memories, that is, memories that are highly vivid, emotionally intense, and are retrieved to reflect enduring concerns in a person's life. METHODS: We invited 40 participants to retrieve self-defining memories while their pupil activity was recorder with eye-tracking glasses. We analyzed memories regarding specificity (i.e., specific or general) and emotional valence (neutral, positive, negative, or mixed). RESULTS: Analysis demonstrated larger pupil diameter during the retrieval of specific than general self-defining memories. However, no significant differences in pupil diameter were observed across the four emotional categories of self-defining memories. DISCUSSION: The increased pupil size during retrieval of specific self-defining memories can be attributed to the autonoetic experience during retrieval of these memories and/or to the cognitive load as required to construct these memoires. By investigating pupil dilation during the retrieval of self-defining memories, our study provides an original, ecological, and reliable physiological assessment of these memories.