Shielding working-memory representations from temporally predictable external interference

Daniela Gresch,Sage E.P Boettcher,Freek Van Ede,Anna C Nobre

doi:10.1016/j.cognition.2021.104915

Daniela Gresch, Sage E.P Boettcher + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cognition.2021.104915

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Abstract

Protecting working-memory content from distracting external sensory inputs and intervening tasks is an ubiquitous demand in daily life. Here, we ask whether and how temporal expectations about external events can help mitigate effects of such interference during working-memory retention. We manipulated the temporal predictability of interfering items that occurred during the retention period of a visual working-memory task and report that temporal expectations reduce the detrimental influence of external interference on subsequent memory performance. Moreover, to determine if the protective effects of temporal expectations rely on distractor suppression or involve shielding of internal representations, we compared effects after irrelevant distractors that could be ignored vs. interrupters that required a response. Whereas distractor suppression may be sufficient to confer protection from predictable distractors, any benefits after interruption are likely to involve memory shielding. We found similar benefits of temporal expectations after both types of interference. We conclude that temporal expectations may play an important role in safeguarding behaviour based on working memory – acting through mechanisms that include the shielding of internal content from external interference.

Highlights

Visual working memory is the cognitive ability to store and manip ulate visual information temporarily for guiding future behaviour (Baddeley, 1992; Nobre & Stokes, 2019)
We found a significant effect of interference type (F(1,53) = 73.667, p < 0.001, η2G = 0.083), indicating that workingmemory performance was worse in interruption as compared to distraction blocks
To ensure efficient goal-directed behaviour, internal representations must be protected from irrelevant perceptual distractors as well as intervening tasks

Summary

Introduction

Visual working memory is the cognitive ability to store and manip ulate visual information temporarily for guiding future behaviour (Baddeley, 1992; Nobre & Stokes, 2019). Working-memory performance has been shown to improve in conditions where distraction during retention was more likely and could be anticipated, as opposed to those where distraction occurred only rarely (Hakim, Feldmann-Wüstefeld, Awh, & Vogel, 2020) It remains unclear whether other types of ex pectations can mitigate distraction during working memory, or through what processes such mitigation might be mediated. At least two mechanisms could contribute to a potential benefit of temporal expectations in mitigating interference: First, sensory pro cessing of task-irrelevant distractors may be suppressed (Bonnefond & Jensen, 2012; de Vries, Savran, van Driel, & Olivers, 2019; Getzmann, Wascher, & Schneider, 2018; Payne, Guillory, & Sekuler, 2013; Sawaki & Luck, 2011), without necessarily affecting internal representations. If we can demonstrate that proactive anticipation of a secondary task improves memory per formance, this would suggest a contribution from internal shielding beyond any potential influence from external distractor suppression

Participants

Task and procedure

Analysis

Interference has a detrimental impact on working-memory performance

Temporal expectations mitigate interference

Discussion