ERIC Number: EJ735264
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2005-Oct
Pages: 12
Abstractor: Author
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0096-1523
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Available Date: N/A
Associative Learning Improves Visual Working Memory Performance
Olson, Ingrid R.; Jiang, Yuhong; Moore, Katherine Sledge
Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance, v31 n5 p889-900 Oct 2005
The ability to remember visual stimuli over a short delay period is limited by the small capacity of visual working memory (VWM). Here the authors investigate the role of learning in enhancing VWM. Participants saw 2 spatial arrays separated by a 1-s interval. The 2 arrays were identical except for 1 location. Participants had to detect the difference. Unknown to the participants, some spatial arrays would repeat once every dozen trials or so for up to 32 repetitions. Spatial VWM performance increased significantly when the same location changed across display repetitions, but not at all when different locations changed from one display repetition to another. The authors suggest that a major role of learning in VWM is to mediate which information gets retained, rather than to directly increase VWM capacity.
Descriptors: Memory, Associative Learning, Visual Stimuli, Memorization, Performance, Visual Learning, Visualization, Case Studies, Long Term Memory, Recognition (Psychology)
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
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Author Affiliations: N/A