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Prioritization within visual working memory reflects a flexible focus of attention
Joshua Sandry1, Timothy J Ricker2,3
1Psychology Department, Montclair State University, 1 Normal Ave, Montclair, NJ, 07043, USA. sandryj@montclair.edu.
Attention, Perception & Psychophysics
|June 4, 2020
Summary
Motivated individuals can maintain active memory for older items by focusing attention. This study supports flexible attention allocation over distinctiveness of encoding for memory prioritization.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Neuroscience
- Memory Research
Background:
- Individuals can maintain active memory for nonrecent items when motivated.
- This is theorized to occur via flexible attention allocation to a prioritized item.
- Alternatively, distinctiveness of encoding may explain retrieval advantages.
Purpose of the Study:
- To contrast flexible attention allocation theory with distinctiveness of encoding theory.
- To investigate the role of reward value in prioritizing memory items.
- To understand the mechanisms of attentional prioritization in visual working memory.
Main Methods:
- Three visual working memory experiments were conducted.
- Reward value was manipulated for incongruent features within item lists.
- Theories were contrasted based on experimental outcomes.
Main Results:
- Findings strongly supported the flexible attention theory.
- No support was found for the distinctiveness of encoding theory.
- Strategy use, motivation, or fatigue did not explain flexible attention prioritization.
Conclusions:
- Flexible attentional prioritization is best explained by attention allocation, not encoding distinctiveness.
- Online attentional refreshing mechanisms likely underlie these effects.
- Reward value influences attention but not through strategy, motivation, or fatigue.
Keywords:
AttentionCognitive controlDistinctivenessFlexibilityMotivationPrioritizationRewardStrategyVisual working memoryMore Related Videos
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