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Spatial attention based on 2D location and relative depth order modulates visual working memory in a 3D environment.
Wei Fang1,2, Kaiyue Wang1, Ke Zhang1
1Department of Psychology, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China.
British Journal of Psychology (London, England : 1953)
|September 26, 2022
Summary
Attentional benefits enhance visual working memory (VWM) for 2D locations but not for depth. Depth-based attention is less effective than 2D spatial attention for VWM, suggesting objects bind primarily to 2D space.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Neuroscience
- Visual Perception
Background:
- Attentional selection enhances visual working memory (VWM) for attended items.
- Benefits are known for 2D spatial cues, but effects of depth information remain unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate attentional effects on VWM in a 3D environment.
- To compare the efficacy of 2D spatial vs. depth cues in VWM.
Main Methods:
- Four experiments used stereoscopic depth planes and retro-cues (physical/symbolic) indicating 2D or depth location.
- Measured retro-cue effects on VWM performance.
Main Results:
- Retro-cue benefits observed for 2D location cues, but not for direct depth location cues.
- A weaker retro-cue effect was found for relative depth order cues.
Conclusions:
- 2D spatial attention selectively benefits VWM more than depth-based attention.
- Object representation binds strongly to 2D location, weakly to depth order, and not to metric depth.
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