Selection and Storage of Perceptual Groups Is Constrained by a Discrete Resource in Working Memory

Autor/inn/en	Anderson, David E.; Vogel, Edward K.; Awh, Edward
Titel	Selection and Storage of Perceptual Groups Is Constrained by a Discrete Resource in Working Memory
Quelle	In: Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance, 39 (2013) 3, S.824-835 (12 Seiten) PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	0096-1523
DOI	10.1037/a0030094
Schlagwörter	Cluster Grouping; Cues; Mnemonics; Short Term Memory; Visual Perception; Neurological Organization; Efficiency; Cognitive Processes; College Students; Prediction; Oregon + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Eingruppierung; Stichwort; Mnemotechnik; Kurzzeitgedächtnis; Visuelle Wahrnehmung; Effectiveness; Effektivität; Wirkungsgrad; Cognitive process; Kognitiver Prozess; Collegestudent; Vorhersage
Abstract	Perceptual grouping can lead observers to perceive a multielement scene as a smaller number of hierarchical units. Past work has shown that grouping enables more elements to be stored in visual working memory (WM). Although this may appear to contradict so-called discrete resource models that argue for fixed item limits in WM storage, it is also possible that grouping reduces the effective number of "items" in the display. To test this hypothesis, we examined how mnemonic resolution declined as the number of items to be stored increased. Discrete resource models predict that precision will reach a stable plateau at relatively early set sizes, because no further items can be stored once putative item limits are exceeded. Thus, we examined whether the precision by set size function was bilinear when storage was enhanced via perceptual grouping. In line with the hypothesis that each perceptual group counted as a single "item," precision still reached a clear plateau at a set size determined by the number of stored groups. Moreover, the maximum number of elements stored was doubled, and electrophysiological measures showed that selection and storage-related neural responses were the same for a single element and a multielement perceptual group. Thus, perceptual grouping allows more elements to be held in working memory while storage is still constrained by a discrete item limit. (Contains 7 figures.) (As Provided).
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Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2017/4/10