Dynamic Visual Noise Affects Visual Short-Term Memory for Surface Color, but not Spatial Location

2010 ◽  
Vol 57 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin Dent
Keyword(s):  
Short Term Memory ◽  
Spatial Location ◽  
Visual Noise ◽  
Dynamic Visual Noise ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Surface Color ◽  
Term Memory ◽  
Visual Short Term Memory ◽  
Experimental Tool ◽  
Spatial Locations

In two experiments participants retained a single color or a set of four spatial locations in memory. During a 5 s retention interval participants viewed either flickering dynamic visual noise or a static matrix pattern. In Experiment 1 memory was assessed using a recognition procedure, in which participants indicated if a particular test stimulus matched the memorized stimulus or not. In Experiment 2 participants attempted to either reproduce the locations or they picked the color from a whole range of possibilities. Both experiments revealed effects of dynamic visual noise (DVN) on memory for colors but not for locations. The implications of the results for theories of working memory and the methodological prospects for DVN as an experimental tool are discussed.

scholarly journals A Bilateral Advantage in Controlling Access to Visual Short-Term Memory

2014 ◽  
Vol 61 (2) ◽  
pp. 127-133 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica L. Holt ◽  
Jean-François Delvenne
Keyword(s):  
Short Term Memory ◽  
Color Change ◽  
Visual Fields ◽  
Salient Feature ◽  
Spatial Location ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Term Memory ◽  
Visual Short Term Memory ◽  
Bilateral Presentation ◽  
Spatial Locations

Recent research on visual short-term memory (VSTM) has revealed the existence of a bilateral field advantage (BFA – i.e., better memory when the items are distributed in the two visual fields than if they are presented in the same hemifield) for spatial location and bar orientation, but not for color ( Delvenne, 2005 ; Umemoto, Drew, Ester, & Awh, 2010 ). Here, we investigated whether a BFA in VSTM is constrained by attentional selective processes. It has indeed been previously suggested that the BFA may be a general feature of selective attention ( Alvarez & Cavanagh, 2005 ; Delvenne, 2005 ). Therefore, the present study examined whether VSTM for color benefits from bilateral presentation if attentional selective processes are particularly engaged. Participants completed a color change detection task whereby target stimuli were presented either across both hemifields or within one single hemifield. In order to engage attentional selective processes, some trials contained irrelevant stimuli that needed to be ignored. Targets were selected based on spatial locations (Experiment 1) or on a salient feature (Experiment 2). In both cases, the results revealed a BFA only when irrelevant stimuli were presented among the targets. Overall, the findings strongly suggest that attentional selective processes at encoding can constrain whether a BFA is observed in VSTM.

Short-term memory recall of visual patterns under static and dynamic visual noise.

2016 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 46-53 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rafael Vasques ◽  
Ricardo Basso Garcia ◽  
Cesar Galera
Keyword(s):  
Short Term Memory ◽  
Visual Noise ◽  
Memory Recall ◽  
Dynamic Visual Noise ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Term Memory ◽  
Visual Patterns

scholarly journals Attention Modulates Maintenance of Representations in Visual Short-term Memory

2012 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 51-60 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bo-Cheng Kuo ◽  
Mark G. Stokes ◽  
Anna Christina Nobre
Keyword(s):  
Neural Activity ◽  
Short Term Memory ◽  
Memory Load ◽  
Spatial Location ◽  
Relevant Information ◽  
Maintenance Period ◽  
Top Down ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Term Memory ◽  
Visual Short Term Memory

Recent studies have shown that selective attention is of considerable importance for encoding task-relevant items into visual short-term memory (VSTM) according to our behavioral goals. However, it is not known whether top–down attentional biases can continue to operate during the maintenance period of VSTM. We used ERPs to investigate this question across two experiments. Specifically, we tested whether orienting attention to a given spatial location within a VSTM representation resulted in modulation of the contralateral delay activity (CDA), a lateralized ERP marker of VSTM maintenance generated when participants selectively encode memory items from one hemifield. In both experiments, retrospective cues during the maintenance period could predict a specific item (spatial retrocue) or multiple items (neutral retrocue) that would be probed at the end of the memory delay. Our results revealed that VSTM performance is significantly improved by orienting attention to the location of a task-relevant item. The behavioral benefit was accompanied by modulation of neural activity involved in VSTM maintenance. Spatial retrocues reduced the magnitude of the CDA, consistent with a reduction in memory load. Our results provide direct evidence that top–down control modulates neural activity associated with maintenance in VSTM, biasing competition in favor of the task-relevant information.

scholarly journals Insensitivity of visual short-term memory to irrelevant visual information

2002 ◽  
Vol 55 (3) ◽  
pp. 753-774 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jackie Andrade ◽  
Eva Kemps ◽  
Yves Werniers ◽  
Jon May ◽  
Arnaud Szmalec
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Visual Processing ◽  
Visual Imagery ◽  
Visual Information ◽  
Short Term Memory ◽  
Verbal Working Memory ◽  
Visual Noise ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Term Memory ◽  
Visual Short Term Memory

Several authors have hypothesized that visuo-spatial working memory is functionally analogous to verbal working memory. Irrelevant background speech impairs verbal short-term memory. We investigated whether irrelevant visual information has an analogous effect on visual short-term memory, using a dynamic visual noise (DVN) technique known to disrupt visual imagery (Quinn & McConnell, 1996b). Experiment 1 replicated the effect of DVN on pegword imagery. Experiments 2 and 3 showed no effect of DVN on recall of static matrix patterns, despite a significant effect of a concurrent spatial tapping task. Experiment 4 showed no effect of DVN on encoding or maintenance of arrays of matrix patterns, despite testing memory by a recognition procedure to encourage visual rather than spatial processing. Serial position curves showed a one-item recency effect typical of visual short-term memory. Experiment 5 showed no effect of DVN on short-term recognition of Chinese characters, despite effects of visual similarity and a concurrent colour memory task that confirmed visual processing of the characters. We conclude that irrelevant visual noise does not impair visual short-term memory. Visual working memory may not be functionally analogous to verbal working memory, and different cognitive processes may underlie visual short-term memory and visual imagery.

Short-Term Memory for Spatial and Temporal Information

1974 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 503-513 ◽  
Author(s):  
Graham J. Hitch
Keyword(s):  
Temporal Order ◽  
Short Term Memory ◽  
Storage System ◽  
Spatial Location ◽  
Spatial Position ◽  
Spatial Proximity ◽  
Temporal Association ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Term Memory ◽  
Spatial Locations

Two experiments examined the probed recall of visually presented letter sequences in which the items appeared at different spatial locations. Three types of probe were compared: (1) spatial position; (2) temporal association; and (3) combined position and association. In the first experiment, in which the spatial locations of the items were correlated with their temporal order, spatial probes were more effective than temporal association probes. In the second experiment spatial location was uncorrelated with temporal order, and spatial probes were less effective than temporal association probes. Regardless of the probe, errors tended to be items presented close in time to correct responses: spatial proximity was far less important. The results are discussed in terms of a storage system in which items and their spatial locations are organized within a temporal format. Both experiments showed superior combined probe performance, demonstrating that short-term retrieval is not limited to the use of one type of cue at a time. Secondary aspects of the results showed additionally that subjects can “edit” their responses to avoid making obvious mistakes, and that spatial location can be partially forgotten rather than being completely lost.

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