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Related Concept Videos

Sensory Memory01:14

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Sensory memory captures information from the environment in its original form for a very brief duration, just long enough to be exposed to visual, auditory, and other senses. This type of memory is detailed and rich but quickly lost unless certain strategies are employed to transfer it into short-term or long-term memory. Sensory information is continuously bombarding the human brain, yet only a small fraction is absorbed, as most of it does not significantly impact daily life. For instance,...
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Related Experiment Video

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Using Rapid Serial Visual Presentation to Measure Set-Specific Capture, a Consequence of Distraction While Multitasking
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Attention restores discrete items to visual short-term memory.

Alexandra M Murray1, Anna C Nobre, Ian A Clark

  • 1Brain and Cognition Laboratory, Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, UK.

Psychological Science
|February 26, 2013
PubMed
Summary

Forgotten memories may not be lost forever. Selective attention can restore items to visual short-term memory (VSTM), improving recall for previously inaccessible information.

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Last Updated: May 13, 2026

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Area of Science:

  • Cognitive Psychology
  • Neuroscience
  • Memory Research

Background:

  • Investigating the persistence of information in visual short-term memory (VSTM).
  • Understanding the role of attention in memory retrieval and recall.
  • Exploring whether forgotten information remains retrievable.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine if selective attention can restore forgotten items to VSTM.
  • To examine the effect of shifting task relevance on memory recall.
  • To provide evidence for attentional restoration of memory.

Main Methods:

  • Two experiments involving memory arrays and retention intervals.
  • Introduction of cues during the retention interval to shift task relevance.
  • Psychophysical modeling to analyze memory performance and item availability.

Main Results:

  • Cued items showed improved recall compared to uncued items.
  • Attention restored previously irretrievable information to VSTM.
  • Memory restoration increased recall probability but not representational quality.

Conclusions:

  • Selective attention can restore discrete items to VSTM.
  • Forgotten information in VSTM is not necessarily lost permanently.
  • Attention plays a critical role in accessing and retrieving memory content.