# Two-year-olds’ visual exploration of response options during memory decisions predicts metamemory monitoring one year later

## TL;DR

Two-year-olds who visually explore more during memory tasks show better self-awareness of their memory accuracy one year later.

## Contribution

The study identifies early visual exploration as a predictor of later metamemory monitoring in young children.

## Key findings

- Higher gaze transitions between response options at age 2 predict better metamemory monitoring at age 3.
- Faster response latencies and better memory at age 2 are also linked to improved metamemory monitoring at age 3.
- At age 3, increased gaze transitions correlate with lower overall confidence in memory decisions.

## Abstract

Introspection on memory states guides decision-making, but little is known about how it emerges in childhood. Toddlers’ behavioral responses to difficult memory decisions (e.g., information seeking) suggest early capacity to track uncertain situations, but it is unclear whether these behaviors relate to later emerging capacity to introspect on memory accuracy (i.e., metamemory monitoring). In a pre-registered longitudinal study, 176 25- to 34-month-olds encode images, then are asked to select the familiar image from arrays that also include a new image (Time 1). One year later (Time 2), 157 participants complete a similar memory task and report decision confidence. Higher gaze transitions between responses, indicative of evaluation processes, faster response latencies, and greater memory at Time 1 predict Time 2 metamemory monitoring (i.e., greater confidence for accurate than inaccurate decisions). At Time 2, gaze transitions are associated with lower overall confidence. Overall, this research reveals potential building blocks of emerging metamemory monitoring.

Infants and toddlers respond to uncertain situations by seeking information. Here, the authors show that 2-year-olds’ information seeking indicated by visual exploration is associated with their subjective uncertainty about their memory decisions at age 3.