How Closing Your Eyes Improves Memory Recall
Research from the University of Surrey has uncovered a simple yet powerful technique for enhancing memory recall: closing your eyes. In a study involving 178 volunteers across two separate experiments, participants who closed their eyes while trying to remember details demonstrated significantly better recall accuracy compared to those who kept their eyes open.
The experiments involved watching a short crime video where an electrician entered a room and stole various items. Participants were then questioned about specific details from the film. Those who closed their eyes during questioning answered an average of 13 out of 17 questions correctly—a 76% accuracy rate. In contrast, participants with eyes open only achieved 7 correct answers, or 41% accuracy.
Why Closing Your Eyes Enhances Memory
The phenomenon occurs because visual processing consumes substantial cognitive resources. When your eyes are open, your brain allocates neural activity to processing the current visual environment—even if you’re not actively focusing on anything specific. This diverts mental energy away from memory retrieval processes.
By closing your eyes, you eliminate external visual distractions and free up cognitive bandwidth for internal visualization. This allows your brain to reconstruct mental images more vividly, accessing stored memories with greater clarity. The technique essentially reduces cognitive load, making it easier to “see” past events in your mind’s eye.
Practical Applications in Daily Life
This simple strategy has numerous real-world applications beyond forensic interviews. Students can use it while studying to better recall information during exams. When trying to remember where you placed your keys or what you ate for breakfast, closing your eyes for a few seconds can help the memory surface.
Law enforcement agencies have already begun incorporating this technique into witness interview protocols. By asking witnesses to close their eyes while recalling crime details, investigators can obtain more accurate and detailed testimonies. The same principle applies to reducing anxiety during high-pressure recall situations.
Supporting Brain Health for Better Memory
While closing your eyes can improve short-term recall, maintaining long-term cognitive function requires comprehensive brain health support. Regular physical exercise increases blood flow to the brain, delivering oxygen and nutrients essential for neural function. Quality sleep consolidates memories and clears metabolic waste from brain tissue.
Nutrition also plays a critical role in memory function. Foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, and B vitamins support neurotransmitter production and protect against cognitive decline. Dark chocolate and cocoa contain flavonoids that may enhance memory, while herbs like basil offer neuroprotective benefits.
When to Use This Technique
The eye-closing method works best for visual or spatial memories—recalling what someone was wearing, the layout of a room, or the sequence of events. For other types of memory tasks, such as remembering names or abstract concepts, different mnemonic strategies may be more effective.
Try this technique the next time you’re struggling to remember details from a meeting, conversation, or recent event. Take a moment to close your eyes, take a deep breath, and allow the memory to reconstruct itself without visual interference.
Sources:
https://www.apa.org/monitor/2015/02/memory-retrieval
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4445577/
