Sensory Cortex Is Nonessential in Working Memory Storage

Abstract

Despite the initial supporting evidence and the popularity of the sensory account of visual working memory (VWM) storage, the overwhelming negative evidence presented in my review [ 1 Xu Y. Reevaluating the sensory account of visual working memory storage. Trends Cogn. Sci. 2017; 21: 794-815 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (123) Google Scholar ] and a related review [ 2 Leavitt M.L. et al. Sustained activity encoding working memories: not fully distributed. Trends Neurosci. 2017; 40: 328-346 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (81) Google Scholar ] show that sensory regions are unlikely to play an essential role in VWM storage. In commentaries, Gayet et al. [ 3 Gayet S. Visual working memory storage recruits sensory processing areas. Trends Cogn. Sci. 2018; 22: 189-190 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (37) Google Scholar ] and Scimeca et al. [ 4 Scimeca J.M. Reaffirming the sensory recruitment account of working memory. Trends Cogn. Sci. 2018; 22: 190-192 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (49) Google Scholar ] put forth new arguments in defense of the sensory account of VWM storage. However, the evidence and arguments presented do not provide support for this account or address the negative evidence. Given the lack of sufficient supporting evidence, we should accept the null hypothesis, no matter how appealing or popular the alternative idea may be.