shaimaa masarwa^1,2 (shaimaa2.mas@gmail.com), Olga Kreichman^1,2, Sharon Gilaie-Dotan^1,2; ¹The Gonda Multidisciplinary Brain Research Center, Bar Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel, ²School of Optometry and Vision Science, Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel

We have recently found that during naturalistic encoding larger images (in the range of 3-12 degrees) are better remembered. However, it is unclear whether this reflects more detailed perception afforded by larger images or genuine memory processes that critically rely on bigger image size. To test this here we measured perception and memory for these image sizes hypothesizing that if better memory for larger image sizes reflects perception then we shall be able to predict memory from perceptual measures. 45 adult participants were presented with 160 images each presented at 3, 6, 12, or 15.5 degrees and perceptually encoded them (reporting for each image whether (i) there was a person in the image, (ii) it was taken indoors or outdoors) without knowing a memory test would follow. Afterwards they were given a surprise old-new recognition-memory test for 320 images (half “old”). While perceptual performance was at ceiling and not influenced by image size, image memory was significantly affected by image size such that larger images were better remembered. Our results may suggest that when the visual system is confronted with challenging tasks (as in the small images condition) immediate processes (as perception) may be prioritized and less resources may be available for longer-term processes (as long term memory).

Acknowledgements: This study was funded by ISF Individual Research Grants 1485/18 and 1462/23 to SGD, and by CHE Lev-Zion Scholarship to OK