TY  - JOUR
AB  - Visual working memory retains visual information for controlling behavior. We studied how information in visual working memory is prioritized for being used. In two experiments, participants memorized the stimuli of a memory display for a brief interval, followed by a retro-cue. The retro-cue was either valid, indicating which stimulus from the memory display was relevant (i.e., had priority) in the upcoming comparison with a probe, or was neutral (uninformative). Next, the probe was presented, terminated by a mask, and participants reported whether it matched a stimulus from the memory display. The presentation duration of the probe was varied. Assessing performance as a function of presentation duration allowed to disentangle two components of working memory: memory retention and the speed of processing the probe for the memory-based comparison. Compared with neutral retro-cues, valid retro-cues improved retention and at the same time accelerated processing of the probe. These findings show for the first time that prioritization in working memory impacts on distinct mechanisms: retrospectively, it supports memory retention, and prospectively, it enhances perceptual processing in upcoming comparison tasks.
DA  - 2020
DO  - 10.1007/s10339-020-00967-7
KW  - Visual cognition
KW  - Perception
KW  - Visual working memory
KW  - Retro-cue effect
LA  - eng
M2  - 331
PY  - 2020
SN  - 1612-4782
SP  - 331-339
T2  - Cognitive processing
TI  - Prioritization in visual working memory enhances memory retention and speeds up processing in a comparison task
UR  - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:0070-pub-29427279
Y2  - 2024-11-22T02:11:40
ER  -