Neural Evidence for a Distinction between Short-Term Memory and the Focus of Attention

Autor/inn/en	Lewis-Peacock, Jarrod A.; Drysdale, Andrew T.; Oberauer, Klaus; Postle, Bradley R.
Titel	Neural Evidence for a Distinction between Short-Term Memory and the Focus of Attention
Quelle	In: Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, 24 (2012) 1, S.61-79 (19 Seiten) PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	0898-929X
DOI	10.1162/jocn_a_00140
Schlagwörter	Evidence; Maintenance; Short Term Memory; Cognitive Processes; Science Education; Retention (Psychology); Attention; Brain + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Evidenz; Kurzzeitgedächtnis; Cognitive process; Kognitiver Prozess; Naturwissenschaftliche Bildung; Merkfähigkeit; Aufmerksamkeit; Gehirn
Abstract	It is widely assumed that the short-term retention of information is accomplished via maintenance of an active neural trace. However, we demonstrate that memory can be preserved across a brief delay despite the apparent loss of sustained representations. Delay period activity may, in fact, reflect the focus of attention, rather than STM. We unconfounded attention and memory by causing external and internal shifts of attention away from items that were being actively retained. Multivariate pattern analysis of fMRI indicated that only items within the focus of attention elicited an active neural trace. Activity corresponding to representations of items outside the focus quickly dropped to baseline. Nevertheless, this information was remembered after a brief delay. Our data also show that refocusing attention toward a previously unattended memory item can reactivate its neural signature. The loss of sustained activity has long been thought to indicate a disruption of STM, but our results suggest that, even for small memory loads not exceeding the capacity limits of STM, the active maintenance of a stimulus representation may not be necessary for its short-term retention. (As Provided).
Anmerkungen	MIT Press. 55 Hayward Street, Cambridge, MA 02142. Tel: 617-253-2889; Fax: 617-253-1709; e-mail: journals-orders@mit.edu; Web site: http://www.mitpressjournals.org/loi/jocn
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2017/4/10