We know this because of how much better we think when we close our eyes. Eye closure “helps people to disengage from environmental stimulation and thereby enhances the efficiency of cognitive processing,” one team of researchers reports. Temporarily relieved of such stimulation, people experience less cognitive load, are better able to engage in visualization, and can more readily retrieve elusive information when faced with one of those frustrating “tip-of-the-tongue” moments. They’re also much better at recalling details, both visual and auditory. One study reported a 23 percent increase in
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