Transsaccadic Scene Memory Revisited: A 'Theory of Visual Attention (TVA)' Based Approach to Recognition Memory and Confidence for Objects in Naturalistic Scenes.

Melissa L.-H Võ,Ellen Matthias,Werner X Schneider

doi:10.16910/jemr.2.2.7

Abstract

The study presented here introduces a new approach to the investigation of transsaccadic memory for objects in naturalistic scenes. Participants were tested with a whole-report task from which — based on the theory of visual attention (TVA) - processing efficiency parameters were derived, namely visual short-term memory storage capacity and visual processing speed. By combining these processing efficiency parameters with transsaccadic memory data from a previous study, we were able to take a closer look at the contribution of visual short-term memory capacity and processing speed to the establishment of visual long-term memory representations during scene viewing. Results indicate that especially the VSTM storage capacity plays a major role in the generation of transsaccadic visual representations of naturalistic scenes.

Highlights

The seeming ease and effectiveness with which we orient ourselves in our environment and the ability to select and store relevant information while inspecting visual scenes is based on a complex interplay of cognitive processes
The study presented here took a closer look at the contributions of two parameters of visual processing efficiency — visual perceptual processing speed and visual-short term memory storage capacity — to the establishment of transsaccadic memory for objects encountered during visual search in naturalistic scenes
As mentioned in the introduction, in theory of visual attention (TVA), the efficiency of processing is defined by two parameters: visual perceptual processing speed C and visual shortterm memory (VSTM) storage capacity K (Bundesen, 1990, 1998; Bundesen, Habekost, & Kyllingsbaek, 2005)

Summary

Introduction

The seeming ease and effectiveness with which we orient ourselves in our environment and the ability to select and store relevant information while inspecting visual scenes is based on a complex interplay of cognitive processes. These involve, for example, the selection and uptake of current as well as the storage of previously processed information in order to construct a meaningful visual representation of the world. Exactly what information can be stored transsaccadically and what processes are involved when fleeting retinal images are transformed into more stable visual representations is still in dispute. The study presented here took a closer look at the contributions of two parameters of visual processing efficiency — visual perceptual processing speed and visual-short term memory storage capacity — to the establishment of transsaccadic memory for objects encountered during visual search in naturalistic scenes

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion