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Just-in-Time Encoding Into Visual Working Memory Is Contingent Upon Constant Availability of External Information
Alex J Hoogerbrugge1, Christoph Strauch1, Sanne Böing1
1Experimental Psychology, Helmholtz Institute, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Journal of Cognition
|May 6, 2024
Summary
Disruptions to external information availability increase reliance on visual working memory (VWM). Even unpredictable delays significantly raise VWM load, highlighting the dynamic nature of information sampling.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Neuroscience
- Human-Computer Interaction
Background:
- Humans balance visual working memory (VWM) storage with external information sampling.
- Previous research linked external information availability to VWM reliance, but often with predictable costs.
- The impact of unpredictable sampling costs on VWM usage remained unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how disruptions in external information availability affect reliance on VWM.
- To determine if unpredictable sampling costs influence VWM load more than predictable ones.
- To explore the dynamic interplay between external information access and internal memory.
Main Methods:
- Two experiments involved participants copying visual layouts.
- Experiment 1 used intermittent occlusion of the example layout.
- Experiment 2 employed a gaze-contingent delay (constant or variable) for layout availability.
Main Results:
- Intermittent occlusion increased encoding attempts but not necessarily accuracy.
- Any gaze-contingent delay, regardless of variability, increased VWM load compared to constant availability.
- Disruptions to continuous external information access were the primary driver of increased VWM usage.
Conclusions:
- VWM engagement is a dynamic process influenced by external information availability.
- Any interruption to continuous external information access elevates VWM load.
- Predictability of delays does not significantly alter VWM load compared to the mere presence of a delay.
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