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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 15, 2026

Virtual Reality Tools for Assessing Unilateral Spatial Neglect: A Novel Opportunity for Data Collection

Virtual Reality Tools for Assessing Unilateral Spatial Neglect: A Novel Opportunity for Data Collection

Published on: March 10, 2021

Evidence for a workspace model of working memory from semantic implicit processing in neglect.

Sergio Della Sala¹, Marian van der Meulen, Patricia Bestelmeyer

¹Human Cognitive Neuroscience and Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, University of Edinburgh, UK. sergio@ed.ac.uk

Journal of Neuropsychology

|March 16, 2010

Summary

This study shows that accessing semantic memory from perception bypasses working memory. Familiar information is processed implicitly, even when attention is impaired.

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A Cognitive Paradigm to Investigate Interference in Working Memory by Distractions and Interruptions

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Published on: July 16, 2015

Area of Science:

Cognitive Psychology
Neuroscience
Human Information Processing

Background:

A dominant theory posits that working memory is essential for processing perceptual input before semantic memory activation.
This research challenges the necessity of initial working memory retention for semantic memory access.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate whether perceptual input can directly activate semantic memory, bypassing working memory.
To examine implicit semantic processing in individuals with unilateral spatial neglect and healthy controls.

Main Methods:

Three experiments utilized brain-damaged patients with unilateral spatial neglect and healthy participants.
Tasks involved matching proverbs to visual stimuli presented in the neglected visual field, with subliminal picture presentations.
Familiar and unfamiliar proverbs were used to assess implicit processing.

Main Results:

Participants demonstrated above-chance selection of familiar proverbs, despite apparent unawareness of target features.
Unfamiliar proverbs were not selected significantly above chance.
Implicit processing of semantic material was evident, even under conditions of impaired attention.

Conclusions:

Semantic memory can be activated directly from perceptual input, without mandatory intermediate processing in working memory.
Working memory may function as a separate system managing activated semantic memory contents.
These findings support a model of direct perception-to-semantic memory activation.