Sustained attention required for effective dimension-based retro-cue benefit in visual working memory.
J Vis
; 23(5): 13, 2023 05 02.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-37191630
ABSTRACT
In visual working memory (VWM) tasks, participants' performances can be improved through the use of dimension-based retro-cues, which direct internal attention to prioritize a particular dimension (e.g., color or orientation) of VWM representations even after the stimuli disappear. This phenomenon is known as the dimension-based retro-cue benefit (RCB). The present study investigates whether sustained attention is required for the dimension-based RCB by inserting interference or interruption between the retro-cue and the test array to distract attention. We tested the effects of perceptual interference or cognitive interruption on dimension-based RCB when the interference (Experiments 1 and 2 with masks) or interruption (Experiments 3 and 4 with an odd-even task) occurred concurrently with the stages for the maintenance of prioritized information (long cue-and-interference/interruption interstimulus interval, e.g., Experiments 1 and 3) or the deployment of attention (short cue-and-interference/interruption interstimulus interval, e.g., Experiments 2 and 4). Our results demonstrate that perceptual interference or cognitive interruption attenuates the dimension-based RCB. These findings suggest that sustained attention is necessary for the effective prioritization of a specific dimension of VWM representations.
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Cues
/
Memory, Short-Term
Limits:
Humans
Language:
En
Journal:
J Vis
Journal subject:
OFTALMOLOGIA
Year:
2023
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
China