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Related Concept Videos

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Working memory refers to a combination of components, including short-term memory and attention, that allow an individual to hold information temporarily as we perform cognitive tasks. It is an essential cognitive function that enables the execution of complex tasks such as problem-solving, comprehension, and reasoning. Unlike short-term memory, which simply involves the storage of information for a brief period, working memory involves the active manipulation and processing of this...
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 2, 2026

A Cognitive Paradigm to Investigate Interference in Working Memory by Distractions and Interruptions
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Competitive interactions in visual working memory drive access to awareness.

Dirk van Moorselaar1, Surya Gayet2, Chris L E Paffen2

  • 1Department of Experimental and Applied Psychology, Institute for Brain and Behavior Amsterdam, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Cortex; a Journal Devoted to the Study of the Nervous System and Behavior
|May 10, 2017
PubMed
Summary

Visual working memory (VWM) biases perception, prioritizing matching items. However, increased competition within VWM or the display reduces this effect, showing VWM biases are context-dependent.

Keywords:
Visual attentionVisual searchVisual working memory

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Area of Science:

  • Cognitive Neuroscience
  • Visual Perception
  • Working Memory

Background:

  • Biased competition models suggest pre-activating visual representations in visual working memory (VWM) biases perception towards matching objects.
  • Prior research shows VWM content prioritizes targets in interocular suppression, but this was tested with minimal competition.
  • The influence of competition on VWM biases remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate how VWM-based modulation of awareness is affected by multiple-item competition within the stimulus display.
  • To examine the impact of multiple-item competition within VWM on perception.
  • To reconcile findings across different experimental paradigms.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized the breaking continuous flash suppression (b-CFS) method to measure access to awareness.
  • Manipulated VWM load (one vs. two items) to assess competition within VWM.
  • Introduced distractors to create multiple-item competition within the stimulus display.

Main Results:

  • Replicated VWM-based facilitation: memory-matching information was released faster from suppression.
  • Increased VWM load significantly reduced VWM-based facilitation, indicating competitive constraints.
  • Presence of distractors generalized VWM-based facilitation beyond interocular suppression to monocular displays.

Conclusions:

  • VWM-based visual biases are triggered by competition, both interocular and inter-stimulus.
  • The effectiveness of VWM top-down modulation is constrained by competition.
  • Findings reconcile previous studies by demonstrating VWM biases operate within competitive contexts.