Human memory is typically studied by direct questioning, and the recollection of events is investigated through verbal reports. Using the MEGA (Memory Episode Gaze Anticipation) paradigm, we show that monitoring anticipatory gaze using eye tracking can quantify memory retrieval without verbal report. Upon repeated viewing of movie clips, eye gaze patterns anticipating salient events can quantify their memory traces seconds before these events appear on the screen. Machine learning-based classification can identify whether a given viewing is associated with memory for the event based on single-trial data of gaze features.
@article{schmidig2025anticipatory,title={Anticipatory eye gaze as a marker of memory},author={Schmidig, Flavio Jean and Yamin, Daniel and Sharon, Omer and Nadu, Yoav and Nir, Jonathan and Ranganath, Charan and Nir, Yuval},journal={Communications Psychology},volume={3},pages={122},year={2025},month=aug,publisher={Nature Portfolio},doi={10.1038/s44271-025-00305-7},url={https://www.nature.com/articles/s44271-025-00305-7},}
We developed a new method to assess episodic memory independent of verbal report, using eye-tracking features combined with statistical analysis and machine learning. This preprint presents the MEGA paradigm for measuring memory through anticipatory gaze patterns.
@article{schmidig2024anticipatory,title={Seeing the Future: Anticipatory Eye Gaze as a Marker of Memory},author={Schmidig, Flavio Jean and Yamin, Daniel and Sharon, Omer and Nadu, Yoav and Nir, Jonathan and Ranganath, Charan and Nir, Yuval},journal={bioRxiv},year={2024},month=aug,doi={10.1101/2024.08.14.607869},url={https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.08.14.607869v2},}
