Abstract
The question whether the storage of spatial locations and other non-spatial features in visual working memory (WM) is based on shared or separate processes remains unresolved. We recorded contralateral delay activity (CDA) components as on-line electrophysiological markers of WM maintenance in two tasks where observers had to retain either the colors or locations of sample stimuli. CDA components were elicited both in the Color and in the Location task, and increasing WM load had identical effects on CDA amplitudes, suggesting shared underlying mechanisms. However, CDA amplitudes were generally larger in the Location Task. Experiment 2 demonstrated that the CDA is sensitive to the resolution demands of spatial WM tasks. CDA amplitudes elicited during the storage of object locations in WM were larger when these locations had to be retained with higher precision. These findings support the hypothesis that spatial and non-spatial features of visual objects are represented in an integrated fashion in WM. The activation of these representations is controlled by space-based attentional control processes, and their spatial resolution can be regulated in line with current task demands.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 108-118 |
| Number of pages | 11 |
| Journal | Biological Psychology |
| Volume | 140 |
| Early online date | 11 Dec 2018 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Jan 2019 |
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Keywords
- Adult
- Attention/physiology
- Color
- Electroencephalography
- Female
- Humans
- Male
- Memory, Short-Term/physiology
- Spatial Memory/physiology
- Task Performance and Analysis
- Non-spatial memory
- Selective attention
- Top-down control
- Event-related brain potentials
- Working memory
- Spatial memory
Cite this
The capacity and resolution of spatial working memory and its role in the storage of non-spatial features. / McCants, Cody W.; Katus, Tobias; Eimer, Martin (Corresponding Author).
In: Biological Psychology, Vol. 140, 01.2019, p. 108-118.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - The capacity and resolution of spatial working memory and its role in the storage of non-spatial features
AU - McCants, Cody W.
AU - Katus, Tobias
AU - Eimer, Martin
N1 - Acknowledgement This research was supported by Grant ES/L016400/1 from the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), UK, and by Grant RPG-2015-370 from the Leverhulme Trust, UK. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
PY - 2019/1
Y1 - 2019/1
N2 - The question whether the storage of spatial locations and other non-spatial features in visual working memory (WM) is based on shared or separate processes remains unresolved. We recorded contralateral delay activity (CDA) components as on-line electrophysiological markers of WM maintenance in two tasks where observers had to retain either the colors or locations of sample stimuli. CDA components were elicited both in the Color and in the Location task, and increasing WM load had identical effects on CDA amplitudes, suggesting shared underlying mechanisms. However, CDA amplitudes were generally larger in the Location Task. Experiment 2 demonstrated that the CDA is sensitive to the resolution demands of spatial WM tasks. CDA amplitudes elicited during the storage of object locations in WM were larger when these locations had to be retained with higher precision. These findings support the hypothesis that spatial and non-spatial features of visual objects are represented in an integrated fashion in WM. The activation of these representations is controlled by space-based attentional control processes, and their spatial resolution can be regulated in line with current task demands.
AB - The question whether the storage of spatial locations and other non-spatial features in visual working memory (WM) is based on shared or separate processes remains unresolved. We recorded contralateral delay activity (CDA) components as on-line electrophysiological markers of WM maintenance in two tasks where observers had to retain either the colors or locations of sample stimuli. CDA components were elicited both in the Color and in the Location task, and increasing WM load had identical effects on CDA amplitudes, suggesting shared underlying mechanisms. However, CDA amplitudes were generally larger in the Location Task. Experiment 2 demonstrated that the CDA is sensitive to the resolution demands of spatial WM tasks. CDA amplitudes elicited during the storage of object locations in WM were larger when these locations had to be retained with higher precision. These findings support the hypothesis that spatial and non-spatial features of visual objects are represented in an integrated fashion in WM. The activation of these representations is controlled by space-based attentional control processes, and their spatial resolution can be regulated in line with current task demands.
KW - Adult
KW - Attention/physiology
KW - Color
KW - Electroencephalography
KW - Female
KW - Humans
KW - Male
KW - Memory, Short-Term/physiology
KW - Spatial Memory/physiology
KW - Task Performance and Analysis
KW - Non-spatial memory
KW - Selective attention
KW - Top-down control
KW - Event-related brain potentials
KW - Working memory
KW - Spatial memory
UR - http://www.mendeley.com/research/capacity-resolution-spatial-working-memory-role-storage-nonspatial-features
UR - http://eprints.bbk.ac.uk/id/eprint/25429
U2 - 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2018.12.006
DO - 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2018.12.006
M3 - Article
VL - 140
SP - 108
EP - 118
JO - Biological Psychology
JF - Biological Psychology
SN - 0301-0511
ER -