Oculomotor preparation as a rehearsal mechanism in spatial working memory

David G Pearson,Keira Ball,Daniel T Smith

doi:10.1016/j.cognition.2014.05.006

David G Pearson, Keira Ball + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cognition.2014.05.006

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Journal: Cognition	Publication Date: Jun 6, 2014
Citations: 54	License type: cc-by

Affiliation: University of Aberdeen, Durham University

Abstract

There 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.

Highlights

An essential cognitive process in human working memory is the ability to temporarily retain and manipulate information concerning the visual and spatial layout of the perceived environment
These results establish that disruption of spatial memory occurred only when participants’ ability to engage in oculomotor preparation during the maintenance and retrieval stages of the Corsi task was rendered physically impossible
There was found to be no effect of 40° or 20° eye-abduction on memory span when participants were in the abducted position only during the retrieval stage of the Corsi Blocks task

Summary

Introduction

An essential cognitive process in human working memory is the ability to temporarily retain and manipulate information concerning the visual and spatial layout of the perceived environment. Evidence from studies using selective interference paradigms suggest VSWM can be dissociated from verbal working memory (Baddeley, 2003; Repovs & Baddeley, 2006), with a further division made between a visual component focused on retaining object features and a spatial component focused on retaining object properties (Klauer & Zhao, 2004). Evidence suggests both visual and spatial memory can be selectively disrupted by specific concurrent interference tasks (Logie, 2011).

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