Real-time reorienting during episodic retrieval rescues memories from suboptimal arousal-attentional states

In 67 participants, pupil-defined suboptimal arousal-attentional states before retrieval impair item recognition and source recollection, but real-time visual reorienting rescues item memory to match optimal trials.

• Why it matters: Memory expression depends on momentary arousal-attentional readiness, but whether these states causally shape retrieval—and how to intervene—was unclear.
• What they did: PRISM continuously monitored pupil size to classify arousal-attentional states and delivered a brief visual reorienting cue on suboptimal-state trials immediately before retrieval.
• The result: The cue improved item memory on suboptimal trials, while source memory was not rescued; offline detrending supported robustness to physiological drift and suggested recovery depends on suboptimal depth and direction.

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