Evidence of relational retrieval, even in the absence of the relational eye movement effect (REME)

Abstract Eye movements indicate relational memory retrieval by disproportional viewing of a matching stimulus compared to non-matching stimuli after a pair learning study phase (the REME). Experiment 1 showed that the magnitude of the eye movement effect is linked to the subjective confidence level of the responses and we could not find evidence of the REME in incorrect responses, where participants lack conscious recollection. In experiment 2 we used a no-choice task, where participants were instructed to learn the test displays after they have completed a pair learning study phase. The REME only appeared in those participants, who could spontaneously report their relational retrieval (aware group). Meanwhile both aware and unaware participants demonstrated evidence of relational retrieval in a new eye movement measure. Taken together, we demonstrated that the REME is not necessary for retrieval and in both of our experiments the emergence of the REME was associated with conscious access.