Retro-cue effect: The retro-cue is effective when and only when working memory consolidation is inadequate.

Abstract

The retro-cue effect (RCE) describes the finding that participants' working memory performance is enhanced when their attention is directed to the to-be-tested position by a spatial cue during the retention interval. Here, we explore the relationship between RCE and working memory consolidation. A sequential display retro-cue paradigm is used for the present study. In Experiments 1A and 1B, longer consolidation time (CT) completely erased the standard RCE. In Experiment 2, longer CT diminished the RCE in a standard simultaneous display retro-cue paradigm. In Experiment 3, the post-cue time was used by participants to further consolidate memory traces. In Experiment 4, longer CT protected memory representations from invalid cue costs. Our results support a consolidation account of the RCE: the retro-cue is effective when and only when the working memory consolidation is inadequate. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).