Visual working memory modulates low-level saccade target selection: evidence from rapidly generated saccades in the
Andrew Hollingworth1, Michi Matsukura, Steven J Luck
1Department of Psychology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA.
Journal of Vision
|November 6, 2013
Summary
Visual working memory (VWM) influences where we look. When a visual working memory item matches a visual target, saccade landing positions shift towards that item, even for very fast eye movements.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Oculomotor Research
- Visual Perception
Background:
- The global effect describes how saccade landing positions average between stimuli.
- Visual working memory (VWM) is crucial for retaining information.
- Understanding VWM's role in eye movement control is key.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how VWM affects saccade landing positions in a global effect paradigm.
- To determine if VWM influences rapid, express saccades.
- To explore the interaction between VWM and early visual processing.
Main Methods:
- Participants performed saccade tasks to object pairs.
- A color was maintained in VWM during the saccade task.
- Experimental conditions included target match, distractor match, and no match to the VWM color.
Main Results:
- Saccades landed at the midpoint (global effect) when no VWM match occurred.
- Saccade landing positions shifted towards the VWM-matching object in match conditions.
- VWM modulation was evident even in express saccades (latency ~112 ms).
Conclusions:
- VWM significantly biases oculomotor selection.
- VWM interacts with early visual processing, affecting perceptual input.
- VWM's influence on saccade landing position mimics effects of physical salience.
