Reducing vividness and emotional intensity of recurrent “flashforwards” by taxing working memory: An analogue study

Several studies have found that making eye movements while retrieving visual images about past negative events reduces their vividness and emotional intensity. A working memory account states that eye movements tax working memory and interfere with visual imagery, thus degrading images. This study examined whether eye movements also affect recurrent, intrusive visual images about potential future catastrophes (“flashforwards”) in a sample of female undergraduates who had indicated on a screening-scale that they suffer from such intrusions. They were asked to recall two intrusive images with or without making eye movements. Before and after each condition, participants retrieved the image, and rated its vividness and emotionality. Results showed that vividness of intrusive images was lower after recall with eye movement, relative to recall only, and there was a similar trend for emotionality. Potential implications are discussed.

Research highlights
► Eye movements during recall of a visual image about a past negative event reduce its vividness and emotional intensity ratings.
► A working memory account posits that eye movements and visual imagery both tax working memory, which will impede mental imagery, such that images become degraded.
► This study examined whether eye movements also affect recurrent, intrusive visual images about potential future catastrophes (“flashforwards”) in an analogue sample.
► Recall with eye movements, relative to recall only, indeed, reduced vividness ratings.