Encoding and representation of simultaneous and sequential arrays in visuospatial working memory

Abstract

The effect of presentation type on organization in visuospatial working memory (VSWM) was examined. Stimuli were presented sequentially or simultaneously at study, and participants made same/different judgements at test. The test array varied in four different spatial configuration conditions: one featuring no changes from study, one in which two items switched, one in which the same array repeated but in a different location, and one in which a completely novel test stimulus appeared. Results indicated the use of a global configuration for both simultaneous and sequential presentations and showed increased impairment of item-level knowledge with sequential presentations. Overall, these results support the use of a global configuration organization as a fundamental aspect of VSWM processing.

Keywords:

• Working memory
• Visuospatial memory

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank Robert Logie and one anonymous reviewer for helpful comments on an earlier draft of this paper. These data come from a thesis submitted by L.D.B. to the Academic Faculty of Colorado State University in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science. The authors' contributions to this research were supported in part by Army Research Office Grant W9112NF-05–1–0153 to Alice Healy.