1. Different states in visual working memory: when it guides attention and when it does not
- Author
-
Pieter R. Roelfsema, Roos Houtkamp, Christian N. L. Olivers, Judith C. Peters, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience (NIN), Cognitive Neuroscience, RS: FPN CN 1, Cognitive Psychology, Integrative Neurophysiology, Neuroscience Campus Amsterdam - Attention & Cognition, Anatomy and neurosciences, and NCA - Attention & Cognition
- Subjects
Cognitive Neuroscience ,FRONTAL EYE FIELD ,Short-term memory ,Experimental and Cognitive Psychology ,PREFRONTAL CORTEX ,MENTAL REPRESENTATIONS ,ELECTROPHYSIOLOGICAL EVIDENCE ,COGNITIVE CONTROL ,SEARCH ,Semantic memory ,Humans ,Attention ,Visual short-term memory ,Episodic memory ,NEURAL MECHANISMS ,SHORT-TERM-MEMORY ,Working memory ,Attentional control ,Brain ,Electroencephalography ,Iconic memory ,Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology ,Memory, Short-Term ,AREA V4 ,Visual Perception ,Implicit memory ,ORIENTING ATTENTION ,Psychology ,Cognitive psychology - Abstract
Recent studies have revealed a strong relationship between visual working memory and selective attention, such that attention is biased by what is currently on our mind. However, other data show that not all memorized items influence the deployment of attention, thus calling for a distinction within working memory: whereas active memory items function as an attentional template and directly affect perception, other, accessory items do not. We review recent evidence that items compete for the status of 'attentional template' that contains only one object at a time. Neurophysiological results provide insight into these different memory states by revealing a more intricate organization of working memory than was previously thought. © 2011 Elsevier Ltd.
- Published
- 2011
- Full Text
- View/download PDF