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Related Experiment Video

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Measuring Attention and Visual Processing Speed by Model-based Analysis of Temporal-order Judgments

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A two-phase model of resource allocation in visual working memory.

Chaoxiong Ye¹, Zhonghua Hu¹, Hong Li²

¹Research Center of Brain and Cognitive Neuroscience, Liaoning Normal University.

Journal of Experimental Psychology. Learning, Memory, and Cognition

|March 3, 2017

Summary

Visual working memory (VWM) allocation is stimulus-driven early on, then becomes controllable by task demands. This two-phase model explains how we balance memory quantity and precision.

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Area of Science:

Cognitive Psychology
Neuroscience
Human Perception

Background:

Visual working memory (VWM) theories include discrete slot-based and continuous resource models.
Current models lack clarity on how VWM resources are allocated.
Previous research shows conflicting results on automatic vs. controlled allocation.

Purpose of the Study:

Propose and test a two-phase VWM allocation model.
Investigate how stimulus-driven factors and task demands influence VWM resource allocation.
Reconcile conflicting findings in VWM research.

Main Methods:

Developed a two-phase VWM allocation model (early consolidation: stimulus-driven; late consolidation: voluntary control).
Conducted orientation recall tasks with manipulated memory set size and exposure duration.
Analyzed the trade-off between memory quantity and precision under different conditions.

Main Results:

No effect of task demands when memory set size was high and exposure duration was short.
A trade-off between memory quantity and precision emerged when set size decreased or exposure duration increased.
Results support the proposed two-phase VWM allocation model.

Conclusions:

VWM allocation operates in two phases: an early stimulus-driven phase and a later, controllable phase.
The two-phase model successfully explains the observed trade-off between memory quantity and precision.
This model accounts for previously conflicting findings regarding VWM allocation automaticity and controllability.