Memory Recall 'Better When Eyes Shut'

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We often find ourselves closing our eyes and frowning when trying to recall something. Most of the time, this ends with an "A-ha!" (although I'm not sure how long it's gonna last before old age catches up with me).

But why is it that it seems to make us think and remember better when we close our eyes? Is it a real effect? Or something we've tricked ourselves with over the years?

Well, apparently,

Closing your eyes when trying to recall events increases the chances of accuracy, researchers at the University of Surrey suggest.

According to the study, it's about reducing and removing distraction. It makes sense if you think about it but I can't say I've ever thought about this on my own.

The study, published in the journal of Legal and Criminological Psychology, focused on recalling fake crime scenes and also experimented whether rapport building with the witnesses would help them recall better.

If you are interested in the BBC article describing this study in more detail, read the article here.