Closing your eyes helps you remember

Memory is more accurate when we close our eyes, according to findings with implications for investigating crime.

Researchers who studied the recall of 178 “witnesses” found that details of an event were remembered more clearly when participants shut their eyes to think.

The team also discovered that building a rapport with witnesses helped them to remember more.

In the first of two experiments, volunteers were asked to watch a film depicting an electrician entering a property, carrying out jobs, and stealing possessions.

Participants were then asked a series of questions about the film, such as: “What was written on the front of the van?”

The questions were designed to test their recall.

Those who closed their eyes while trying to remember answered 23% more of the questions correctly than those who did not.

Building rapport also increased the number of correct answers, but closing the eyes improved performance whether or not this was achieved.

Study leader Robert Nash, from the University of Surrey, said: “It is clear from our research that closing the eyes and building rapport help with witness recall.”