scholarly journals Working memory availability affects neural indices of distractor processing during visual search

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dion T. Henare ◽  
Jude Buckley ◽  
Paul M. Corballis
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Visual Search ◽  
Memory Load ◽  
Individual Performance ◽  
Event Related Potential ◽  
Neural Mechanisms ◽  
Human Cognition ◽  
Working Memory Load ◽  
Distractor Processing ◽  
Selective Processing

AbstractWorking memory and selective attention are traditionally viewed as distinct processes in human cognition. However, increasing research demonstrates significant overlap between these constructs such that as working memory availability decreases, individuals perform worse on attention-based tasks. To date, the neural mechanisms involved in this interaction are unknown. We measured three candidate lateralized event-related potential components (N2pc, Ptc, and SPCN) to observe the effects of increased working memory load on selective processing of targets and distractors. We found that increased working memory load impaired the processing of distractors, but not targets, and this was reflected in attentuation of the Ptc to distractors. We also found that individual performance on the task is related to the neural response to both targets and distractors. This study suggests that working memory availability impacts individuals’ ability to disengage from irrelevant stimuli, and that individual differences in visual search ability under load are related to both target and distractor processing.

Visual Search Facilitation in Repeated Displays Depends on Visuospatial Working Memory

2012 ◽  
Vol 59 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-54 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angela A. Manginelli ◽  
Franziska Geringswald ◽  
Stefan Pollmann
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Visual Search ◽  
Control Experiment ◽  
Memory Load ◽  
Contextual Cueing ◽  
Long Term Memory ◽  
Visuospatial Working Memory ◽  
Working Memory Load ◽  
Memory Resources

When distractor configurations are repeated over time, visual search becomes more efficient, even if participants are unaware of the repetition. This contextual cueing is a form of incidental, implicit learning. One might therefore expect that contextual cueing does not (or only minimally) rely on working memory resources. This, however, is debated in the literature. We investigated contextual cueing under either a visuospatial or a nonspatial (color) visual working memory load. We found that contextual cueing was disrupted by the concurrent visuospatial, but not by the color working memory load. A control experiment ruled out that unspecific attentional factors of the dual-task situation disrupted contextual cueing. Visuospatial working memory may be needed to match current display items with long-term memory traces of previously learned displays.

scholarly journals Effects of Age and Working Memory Load on Syntactic Processing: An Event-Related Potential Study

2018 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Graciela C. Alatorre-Cruz ◽  
Juan Silva-Pereyra ◽  
Thalía Fernández ◽  
Mario A. Rodríguez-Camacho ◽  
Susana A. Castro-Chavira ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Memory Load ◽  
Event Related Potential ◽  
Syntactic Processing ◽  
Working Memory Load ◽  
Potential Study

Performance Dissociation during Verbal and Spatial Working Memory Tasks

2007 ◽  
Vol 105 (1) ◽  
pp. 243-250 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bonnie J. Nagel ◽  
Arthur Ohannessian ◽  
Kevin Cummins
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Spatial Working Memory ◽  
Memory Load ◽  
Memory Task ◽  
Past Research ◽  
Neural Substrates ◽  
Individual Performance ◽  
Task Design ◽  
Brain Response ◽  
Working Memory Load

Past research has inconsistently distinguished the neural substrates of various types of working memory. Task design and individual performance differences are known to alter patterns of brain response during working-memory tasks. These task and individual differences may have produced discrepancies in imaging findings. This study of 50 healthy adults ( Mage = 19.6 yr., SD = .8) examined performance during various parametric manipulations of a verbal and spatial n-back working-memory task. Performance systematically dissociated on the basis of working-memory load, working memory type, and stimulus difficulty, with participants having greater accuracy but slower response time during conditions requiring verbal versus spatial working memory. These findings hold implications for cognitive and neuroimaging studies of verbal and spatial working memory and highlight the importance of considering both task design and individual behavior.

scholarly journals Effect of verbal working memory load during the oculomotor activity in visual search

2015 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 21-35 ◽  
Author(s):  
B.B. Velichkovsky ◽  
A.I. Izmalkova
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Visual Search ◽  
Spatial Working Memory ◽  
Memory Load ◽  
Mutual Influence ◽  
Verbal Working Memory ◽  
Working Memory Load ◽  
Visual Spatial ◽  
Visual Spatial Working Memory ◽  
Oculomotor Activity

The structure of working memory has components responsible for the storage of verbal and visualspatial information; despite the fairly detailed study of the functions and mechanisms of their work, the question of their mutual influence is still open. Studies on the verbal working memory load influence on visual search performance (a task requiring the use of visual-spatial working memory resources) it was found that the load on the verbal working memory leads to increased efficiency of target detection. The results of the analysis of oculomotor activity during visual search also point out that the implementation of such tasks under verbal working memory load is accompanied by an increase in cognitive tension and of the degree of search automaticity. The results may indicate the interaction of verbal and visual-spatial working memory components that share non-specific cognitive resources.

scholarly journals Attentional Effects of Working Memory Load and Consolidation During Visual Search

2012 ◽  
Vol 12 (9) ◽  
pp. 1145-1145 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Chirimuuta ◽  
K. Tsvetanov ◽  
G. Humphreys
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Visual Search ◽  
Memory Load ◽  
Working Memory Load

scholarly journals Spatial working memory in visual search for multiple targets

2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 38-52 ◽  
Author(s):  
E.S. Gorbunova
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Visual Search ◽  
Alternative Explanation ◽  
Spatial Working Memory ◽  
Memory Load ◽  
Search Efficiency ◽  
Working Memory Load ◽  
Multiple Targets ◽  
Subsequent Search Misses

The article investigated the role of spatial working memory in visual search for multiple targets, in particular, in subsequent search misses effect. This phenomenon is the second target omission after the first target has been found in visual search task. One of the theoretical interpretations of subsequent search misses is the lack of resources (attention and/or working memory) after the first target is found. Experiment investigated dual-target visual search efficiency in standard conditions and with additional spatial working memory load. Additional working memory load did not have any significant impact in multiple target visual search efficiency. The results can due to the role of object, but not spatial working memory in this task. Alternative explanation assumes using special tools and strategies.

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