Neural Dynamics of Relational Memory Retrieval Across Eye Movements

Relational memory retrieval entails a dynamic interplay between eye movements and neural activity, yet the temporal coordination of these processes remains unclear. We examined how theta- and alpha-band EEG activity relates to sequential fixations during relational memory retrieval. Participants performed a two-alternative forced-choice associative memory task while eye movements and EEG were recorded simultaneously. Retrieval was marked by a relational eye-movement effect: correctly remembered target elements were fixated disproportionately during the later stages of the retrieval sequence. Time-frequency EEG analyses revealed that successful retrieval involved an early, transient increase in theta power and a sustained decrease in alpha power. Gaze-related analyses further linked these neural effects to distinct retrieval processes. The theta increase emerged shortly after the initial cue fixation and predicted retrieval success regardless of whether subsequent saccades landed on the target or a distractor. In contrast, the alpha decrease predicted retrieval success only when fixations continued on the target. These findings connect the relational eye-movement effect to two distinct neural signatures: a general theta increase, reflecting recollection processes that may initiate pattern completion, and a target-selective alpha decrease, reflecting sustained reactivation of goal-relevant associations across fixations. Together, these results clarify the temporal dynamics of relational memory retrieval and underscore the role of sequential eye movements in memory-guided behavior.