Pearson Ball Smith 2014.pdf (830.76 kB)
Download fileOculomotor preparation as a rehearsal mechanism in spatial working memory
journal contribution
posted on 2023-07-26, 13:48 authored by David G. Pearson, Keira Ball, Daniel T. SmithThere is little consensus regarding the specific processes responsible for encoding, maintenance, and retrieval of information in visuo-spatial working memory (VSWM). One influential theory is that VSWM may involve activation of the eye-movement (oculomotor) system. In this study we experimentally prevented healthy participants from planning or executing saccadic eye-movements during the encoding, maintenance, and retrieval stages of visual and spatial working memory tasks. Participants experienced a significant reduction in spatial memory span only when oculomotor preparation was prevented during encoding or maintenance. In contrast there was no reduction when oculomotor preparation was prevented only during retrieval. These results show that (a) involvement of the oculomotor system is necessary for optimal maintenance of directly-indicated locations in spatial working memory and (b) oculomotor preparation is not necessary during retrieval from spatial working memory. We propose that this study is the first to unambiguously demonstrate that the oculomotor system contributes to the maintenance of spatial locations in working memory independently from the involvement of covert attention.
History
Refereed
- Yes
Volume
132Issue number
3Page range
416-428Publication title
CognitionISSN
1873-7838External DOI
Publisher
ElsevierFile version
- Published version
Language
- eng