Interference between items stored for distinct tasks in visual working memory

Czoschke, S., Peters, B. , Kaiser, J. and Bledowski, C. (2023) Interference between items stored for distinct tasks in visual working memory. Attention, Perception, and Psychophysics, 85(5), pp. 1461-1473. (doi: 10.3758/s13414-023-02657-w) (PMID:36720779) (PMCID:PMC10372107)

Abstract

The action perspective on working memory suggests that memory representations are coded according to their specific temporal and behavioral task demands. This stands in contrast to theories that assume representations are stored in a task-agnostic format within a “common workspace”. Here, we tested whether visual items that are memorized for different tasks are stored separately from one another or show evidence of inter-item interference during concurrent maintenance, indicating a common storage. In two experiments, we combined a framing memory task (memorize a motion direction for continuous direction report) with an embedded memory task (memorize a motion direction for a binary direction discrimination) that was placed within the retention period of the framing task. Even though the temporal and action demands were item specific, we observed two types of interference effects between the items: The embedded motion direction was (1) repulsed away and (2) degraded in precision by the motion direction of the item in the framing task. Repulsion and precision degradation increased with item similarity when both items were concurrently held in working memory. In contrast, perceptual and iconic memory control conditions revealed weaker repulsion overall and no interference effect on precision during the stimulus processing stages prior to working memory consolidation. Thus, additional inter-item interference arose uniquely within working memory. Together, our results present evidence that items that are stored for distinct tasks to be performed at distinct points in time, reside in a common workspace in working memory.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Peters, Dr Benjamin
• Authors: Czoschke, S., Peters, B., Kaiser, J., and Bledowski, C.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Psychology & Neuroscience
• Journal Name: Attention, Perception, and Psychophysics
• Publisher: Springer
• ISSN: 1943-3921
• ISSN (Online): 1943-393X
• Published Online: 31 January 2023
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2023 The Author(s)
• First Published: First published in Attention, Perception, and Psychophysics 85(5):1461-1473
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons license