Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Working Memory01:24

Working Memory

415
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...
415
Visual Agnosia01:12

Visual Agnosia

275
Visual agnosia is a condition characterized by the inability to recognize visually presented objects despite having normal vision. For instance, a person with visual agnosia can describe the shape and color of an object but cannot identify or name it. This impairment does not affect their visual field, acuity, color vision, brightness discrimination, language, or memory. An example of this condition in a social setting is someone at a dinner party asking for "that silver thing with a round...
275
Sensory Memory01:14

Sensory Memory

289
Sensory memory captures information from the environment in its original form for a very brief duration, just long enough to be exposed to visual, auditory, and other senses. This type of memory is detailed and rich but quickly lost unless certain strategies are employed to transfer it into short-term or long-term memory. Sensory information is continuously bombarding the human brain, yet only a small fraction is absorbed, as most of it does not significantly impact daily life. For instance,...
289
Chunking and Rehearsal in Sensory Memory01:22

Chunking and Rehearsal in Sensory Memory

275
Improving short-term memory can be achieved through techniques like chunking and rehearsal. Chunking involves organizing information into larger, more manageable units. This technique is particularly useful for information that exceeds the typical memory span of between five and nine items. For instance, logging into an online account with a password like "ta89vq0179gz" involves grouping letters and numbers into three chunks—ta89, vq01, and 79gz. It makes large amounts of...
275
Visual System01:26

Visual System

657
Light enters the eye through the cornea, a transparent, dome-shaped surface covering the surface of the eyeball that helps to direct and focus incoming light. This light is then channeled toward the pupil, an adjustable opening whose size is controlled by the iris. The iris, a pigmented muscle, regulates the amount of light entering the eye by contracting or dilating the pupil, thereby ensuring optimal light levels for clear vision.
Once through the pupil, the light passes through the lens, a...
657
Motor and Sensory Areas of the Cortex01:14

Motor and Sensory Areas of the Cortex

4.5K
The cerebral cortex, the brain's outermost layer, is pivotal in processing complex cognitive tasks, emotions, and various sensory inputs and executing voluntary motor activities. This intricate structure is divided into three primary functional areas: the motor areas, sensory areas, and association areas.
Motor Areas
The motor areas located in the frontal lobe are central to controlling voluntary movements. This region is further subdivided into the primary motor cortex and the premotor cortex....
4.5K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Running virtual reality experiments online: A brief introduction and tutorial.

Behavior research methods·2026
Same author

Effects of Age on Resting-State Cortical Networks.

Human brain mapping·2026
Same author

Neural Signatures of Flexible Temporal Orienting under Spatial and Motor Uncertainty.

Journal of cognitive neuroscience·2026
Same author

Biomarkers.

Alzheimer's & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association·2025
Same author

Divergence of cortical neurophysiology across different neurodegenerative disorders compared to healthy ageing.

Progress in neurobiology·2025
Same author

Alzheimer's disease and its progression reduce pyramidal cell gain and connectivity.

Alzheimer's & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association·2025
Same journal

Sensorimotor Adaptation of Vocal Pitch Is Impaired in Cerebellar Ataxia.

Journal of cognitive neuroscience·2026
Same journal

Memory in the Palm of Your Hand: Smartphone-based Methods for Measuring Memory in the Wild.

Journal of cognitive neuroscience·2026
Same journal

Processing Asymmetry in Object-modifying Relative Clauses: Evidence from Functional Connectivity.

Journal of cognitive neuroscience·2026
Same journal

Extensive Experience Remodels Neural Task Circuitry to Escape the Frontal Bottleneck and Increase Automaticity of Categorization.

Journal of cognitive neuroscience·2026
Same journal

Investigating the Effects of Acute Stress on Neural Mechanisms of Self-controlled Decision-making.

Journal of cognitive neuroscience·2026
Same journal

Distilling the Neurophenomenological Signatures of Pure Awareness during Transcendental Meditation.

Journal of cognitive neuroscience·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 27, 2025

Working Memory Training for Older Participants: A Control Group Training Regimen and Initial Intellectual Functioning Assessment
07:01

Working Memory Training for Older Participants: A Control Group Training Regimen and Initial Intellectual Functioning Assessment

Published on: September 20, 2020

4.8K

Opening Questions in Visual Working Memory.

Anna C Nobre1

  • 1University of Oxford.

Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience
|September 27, 2022
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

This reflective piece explores puzzles in visual working memory research. It highlights areas where current findings and theories leave the author stumped, inviting further investigation into cognitive processes.

More Related Videos

Assessing Working Memory in Children: The Comprehensive Assessment Battery for Children – Working Memory (CABC-WM)
09:05

Assessing Working Memory in Children: The Comprehensive Assessment Battery for Children – Working Memory (CABC-WM)

Published on: June 12, 2017

29.9K
A Cognitive Paradigm to Investigate Interference in Working Memory by Distractions and Interruptions
10:38

A Cognitive Paradigm to Investigate Interference in Working Memory by Distractions and Interruptions

Published on: July 16, 2015

13.7K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Aug 27, 2025

Working Memory Training for Older Participants: A Control Group Training Regimen and Initial Intellectual Functioning Assessment
07:01

Working Memory Training for Older Participants: A Control Group Training Regimen and Initial Intellectual Functioning Assessment

Published on: September 20, 2020

4.8K
Assessing Working Memory in Children: The Comprehensive Assessment Battery for Children – Working Memory (CABC-WM)
09:05

Assessing Working Memory in Children: The Comprehensive Assessment Battery for Children – Working Memory (CABC-WM)

Published on: June 12, 2017

29.9K
A Cognitive Paradigm to Investigate Interference in Working Memory by Distractions and Interruptions
10:38

A Cognitive Paradigm to Investigate Interference in Working Memory by Distractions and Interruptions

Published on: July 16, 2015

13.7K

Area of Science:

  • Cognitive Psychology
  • Neuroscience
  • Human Memory

Background:

  • Visual working memory (VWM) is crucial for complex cognitive tasks.
  • Existing models of VWM face challenges in explaining all empirical findings.
  • A critical examination of VWM literature reveals persistent theoretical gaps.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify and discuss specific points of confusion and puzzlement in the field of visual working memory.
  • To move beyond traditional review synthesis and highlight areas of scholarly uncertainty.
  • To stimulate new research directions by exposing limitations in current understanding.

Main Methods:

  • Reflective analysis of existing literature on visual working memory.
  • Identification of inconsistencies and unresolved questions within the field.
  • Personal scholarly reflection on the limitations of current theories and findings.

Main Results:

  • Several key areas within VWM research present significant conceptual challenges.
  • Standard theoretical frameworks do not adequately account for all observed phenomena.
  • The author's own understanding is demonstrably limited by current literature.

Conclusions:

  • The field of visual working memory requires deeper theoretical integration and empirical investigation.
  • Acknowledging and exploring current "stumped" points is vital for scientific progress.
  • Further research is needed to resolve discrepancies and advance our understanding of VWM.