Working memory enhances visual perception: evidence from signal detection analysis.

Journal article

We show that perceptual sensitivity to visual stimuli can be modulated by matches between the contents of working memory (WM) and stimuli in the visual field. Observers were presented with an object cue (to hold in WM or to merely attend) and subsequently had to identify a brief target presented within a colored shape. The cue could be re-presented in the display, where it surrounded either the target (on valid trials) or a distractor (on invalid trials). Perceptual identification of the targ...

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Authors: Soto, D; Wriglesworth, A; Bahrami-Balani, A; Humphreys, G

• Publication status: Published
• Journal: Journal of experimental psychology. Learning, memory, and cognition
• Volume: 36
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 441-456
• Publication date: 2010-03-01
• DOI: 10.1037/a0018686
• EISSN: 1939-1285
• ISSN: 0278-7393
• Language: English
• Keywords: Humans; Decision Making; Statistics, Nonparametric; Neuropsychological Tests; Pattern Recognition, Visual; Attention; Female; Visual Perception; Adolescent; Visual Fields; Signal Detection, Psychological; Photic Stimulation; Color Perception; Young Adult; Cues; Memory, Short-Term; Male