
Contact Information
Research Areas
Research Interests
I implement eye-tracking research for the purposes of identifying encoding and retrieval mechanisms that reflect memory formation and subsequent memory strength in Relational Memory. Measures of eye-tracking implemented in my research includes duration of fixation time, both at the beginning of each test trial (i.e., first-gaze measures) as well as immediately prior to behavioral selection in recognition, both of which demonstrate the eye-movements contribute to successful recollection and the strength of successfully recognized items. Additionally, I implement pupillometry measures during learning in order to identify encoding processes that are reflected in pupil-size fluctuations to studied stimuli and how these are related to viewing measures during retrieval.
I am also interested in Intentional Forgetting, as is studied using the Directed Forgetting procedures. My work in this area focuses on intentional forgetting of Relational Memory and the mechanisms that support it Intentional Forgetting more broadly. Specifically, my work in Directed Forgetting assess contrasting predictions made between Selective Rehearsal and the more contemporary accounts of Item-Method DF that involve inhibition or suppression.
Research Description
The research I conduct includes both behavioral as well as eye-movement monitoring, where the main topics lie at the intersection of mechanisms of Motivated Forgetting as well as associative/relational memory. I also investigate encoding processes during learning that are reflected in pupil-size fluctuations and how these are related to viewing measures during retrieval in Relational Memory.
Education
B.A. in Psychology, University of Michigan-Dearborn, 2015
M.S. in Psychology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2020
Grants
UIUC Research Board Grant - 2022
Courses Taught
PSYC 100 - Introduction to Psychology
PSYC 224 - Cognitive Psychology
PSYC 248 - Learning & Memory
External Links
Recent Publications
Ding, H., Whitlock, J., Sahakyan, L. (2022). Can intentional forgetting reduce the cross-race effect in memory? Psychonomic Bulletin & Review.
Whitlock, J., Hubbard, R., Sahakyan, L., (Submitted). Trial-level fluctuations in pupil dilation during encoding reflect strength of relational binding. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition.
Whitlock, J., Chiu, Y., Sahakyan, L., (2022). Directed forgetting in associative memory: Dissociating item and associative impairment. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition, 48(1), 29-42. [PDF]
Whitlock, J., Lo, Y., Chiu, Y., Sahakyan, L., (2020). Eye movement analyses of strong and weak memories and goal-driven forgetting. Cognition, 204. [PDF]