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Storage and processing in visuo-spatial working memory
1Department of Psychosocial Science, University of Bergen, Norway. Simon.Duff@psych.uib.no
Scandinavian Journal of Psychology
|February 5, 2000
Summary
Visuo-spatial working memory may involve separate systems for processing and temporary storage. Experiments show these functions operate independently, suggesting distinct cognitive resources are utilized.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Neuroscience
- Human Memory
Background:
- Visuo-spatial working memory is crucial for tasks like tracking and pattern recall.
- Emerging evidence suggests a split between visuo-spatial processing and visual cache memory.
- The relationship between these components and executive resources is under investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether visuo-spatial processing and temporary storage utilize overlapping or distinct working memory resources.
- To examine the resource demands of responding to spatial targets versus remembering their appearance.
Main Methods:
- Two experiments were conducted to test the resource demands of visuo-spatial tasks.
- Experiment 1 involved responding to targets and recalling their appearance under varying loads.
- Experiment 2 used articulatory suppression to inhibit verbal labeling during tasks.
Main Results:
- Performance on visuo-spatial response tasks was unaffected by concurrent memory load.
- Memory recall accuracy was not significantly impacted by the requirement to respond to targets.
- Articulatory suppression did not alter the independence of processing and memory components.
Conclusions:
- Findings support a multiple-component model of working memory.
- Visuo-spatial processing and temporary visual storage appear to draw on distinct cognitive resources.
- This fractionation offers a more nuanced understanding of working memory architecture.