​A study published by Frontiers in Psychology, stated that closing the eyes assists in retrieving visual information. [1] The study included 120 children between the ages of 8 and 11. The participants watched a 5-minute video of a theft and later were asked to recall details about the event. The children were either shown a blank screen, kept their eyes closed, were exposed to visual or auditory stimuli. The results were that both the individuals who either saw a blank screen or had their eyes closed, fared better at remember visual details of the event.[2] More information can be found at:

http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fpsyg.2014.00241/abstract

----------

[1] http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fpsyg.2014.00241/abstract


[2] Mastroberardino S and Vredeveldt A (2014) Eye-closure increases children's memory accuracy for visual material. Front. Psychol. 5:241. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2014.00241

According to a Frontiers article, psychologists are divided as to whether Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) patients have an exaggerated or diminished sense of control. [1] To test these competing theories a study was conducted where participants were to “attempt to exert control over a light bulb, (however) unbeknownst to (the subjects), the illumination of the light bulb was predetermined and irrespective of their behavior.” [2] The study found OCD patients had a reduced sense of control over the perceived impact they had on the light bulb, indicating that those suffering from this disorder may have a perceived lack of control in the real world.

More information can be found at:

http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fpsyg.2014.00204/full#B9

----------

[1] http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fpsyg.2014.00204/full#B9

[2] Gillan CM, Morein-Zamir S, Durieux AMS, Fineberg NA, Sahakian BJ and Robbins TW (2014) Obsessive–compulsive disorder patients have a reduced sense of control on the illusion of control task. Front. Psychol. 5:204. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2014.00204