Researchers found that eyewitnesses have a better chance of remembering detail about a crime when they close their eyes. The team conducted two experiments with 178 people. After a research the team found that when the participants closed their eyes, they were able to remember 23%, more information than the people with open eyes.
Having a good relationship with interviewer also helped people answer more question about crime correctly, but if the person close his or her eyes, the recall was effective regardless of the report the person felt with the interviewer.
The researchers found that closing an eye during an investigation is likely to make you feel less comfortable unless you have built up a good rapport with the questioner.
Participants who had not built a rapport with their interrogator said that they felt uncomfortable closing their eyes in both experiments. However, participants who had built a rapport said they felt more comfortable when they close their eyes.
