Individual visual working memory capacities and related brain oscillatory activities are modulated by color preferences

Masahiro Kawasaki,Yoko Yamaguchi

doi:10.3389/fnhum.2012.00318

Abstract

Subjective preferences affect many processes, including motivation, along with individual differences. Although incentive motivations are proposed to increase our limited visual working memory (VWM) capacity, much less is known about the effects of subjective preferences on VWM-related brain systems, such as the prefrontal and parietal cortices. Here, we investigate the differences in VWM capacities and brain activities during presentation of preferred and non-preferred colors. To this end, we used time-frequency (TF) analyses of electroencephalograph (EEG) data recorded during a delayed-response task. Behavioral results showed that the individual VWM capacities of preferred colors were significantly higher than those of non-preferred colors. The EEG results showed that the frontal theta and beta amplitudes for maintenance of preferred colors were higher than those of non-preferred colors. Interestingly, the frontal beta amplitudes were consistent with recent EEG recordings of the effects of reward on VWM systems, in that they were strongly and individually correlated with increasing VWM capacities from non-preferred to preferred colors. These results suggest that subjective preferences affect VWM systems in a similar manner to reward-incentive motivations.

Highlights

As a well-known proverb says, “Everyone to his taste.” there are large individual differences in subjective preferences
visual working memory (VWM) capacity was significantly higher with a subject’s favorite color compared to their less preferred colors, under conditions involving high VWM loads. This result is in agreement with previous findings showing that VWM capacity is enhanced by anticipation of high monetary rewards for correct answers, in comparison with low or no monetary rewards (Pochon et al, 2002; Gilbert and Fiez, 2004; Krawczyk et al, 2007; Kawasaki and Yamaguchi, in press)
In relation to the behavioral results, our EEG results demonstrate that VWM-related brain activities are modulated by subjective preferences

Summary

Introduction

As a well-known proverb says, “Everyone to his taste.” there are large individual differences in subjective preferences. The VWM capacity can be increased by training (Klingberg et al, 2002; Olesen et al, 2004; Jaeggi et al, 2008; McNab et al, 2009) or enhanced motivation by rewards such as money (Pochon et al, 2002; Gilbert and Fiez, 2004; Krawczyk et al, 2007; Kawasaki and Yamaguchi, in press). It not known whether VWM is affected by subjective preferences

Methods

Results

Conclusion