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Working memory processes show different degrees of lateralization: evidence from event-related potentials
D Talsma1, A A Wijers, P Klaver
1Psychonomics Department, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands. talsma@psy.uva.nl
Psychophysiology
|May 16, 2001
Summary
This study used event-related potentials (ERPs) to reveal that visual working memory involves contralateral posterior brain areas for memorization and left-hemispheric processes for identification, impacting response times.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Psychology
Background:
- Working memory is crucial for cognitive tasks.
- Understanding its underlying neural processes is essential.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the neural mechanisms of visual working memory.
- To differentiate processes involved in memorization and identification.
Main Methods:
- Utilized event-related potentials (ERPs) and response time measurements.
- Employed a delayed matching-to-sample paradigm with abstract polygons.
- Manipulated the number of items to be memorized and stimulus presentation location.
Main Results:
- Memorization correlated with activity in contralateral posterior brain areas.
- Stimulus identification was primarily a left hemispheric process.
- Response times increased with contralaterally presented targets and when memorizing two items versus one.
Conclusions:
- Working memory involves distinct neural substrates for encoding and retrieval.
- Hemispheric lateralization plays a role in visual working memory processes.
- Cognitive load and spatial factors influence working memory performance.