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Gaze-based and attention-based rehearsal in spatial working memory.

Alessandra S Souza¹, Stefan Czoschke², Elke B Lange²

¹Department of Psychology.

Journal of Experimental Psychology. Learning, Memory, and Cognition

|October 4, 2019

Summary

Maintaining spatial information in working memory (WM) relies on central attention, not just visual rehearsal. Distracting central attention significantly increases forgetting, highlighting its crucial role in spatial memory.

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Area of Science:

Cognitive Psychology
Neuroscience
Human Memory

Background:

Working memory (WM) models often propose rehearsal as key to preventing information decay.
The specific roles of gaze-based and attention-based rehearsal in protecting spatial representations require further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the contributions of gaze-based and attention-based rehearsal in maintaining spatial representations against time-based forgetting.
To differentiate the impact of visual cues versus attentional focus on spatial working memory performance.

Main Methods:

Participants memorized spatial locations presented on a grid, with retention intervals varying (1.5s vs. 4.5s) under blank or grid-present conditions.
Eye movements were monitored, and dual-task paradigms were employed to inhibit visuospatial attention or central attention.
Spatial working memory was assessed under varying conditions to evaluate forgetting rates and the influence of rehearsal strategies.

Main Results:

Memory performance was superior and more resistant to forgetting when the grid remained visible, suggesting a 'grid benefit'.
Gaze-based rehearsal was more frequent and efficient with the grid present; however, distractor fixations did not correlate with memory errors.
Inhibiting eye movements or visuospatial attention impaired overall memory but did not alter the grid benefit or forgetting rate.

Conclusions:

The observed 'grid benefit' is only partially attributable to rehearsal, indicating other mechanisms are involved.
Gaze errors (fixating distractors) do not appear to be a primary cause of forgetting in this spatial task.
Effective maintenance of spatial representations over time critically depends on central attentional processing.