Journal article
Does visual short-term memory have a high-capacity stage?
Psychonomic bulletin & review, Vol.18(6), pp.1098-1104
12/2011
DOI: 10.3758/s13423-011-0153-2
PMCID: PMC3248760
PMID: 21935737
Abstract
Visual short-term memory (VSTM) has long been considered a durable, limited-capacity system for the brief retention of visual information. However, a recent work by Sligte et al. (Plos One 3:e1699, 2008) reported that, relatively early after the removal of a memory array, a cue allowed participants to access a fragile, high-capacity stage of VSTM that is distinct from iconic memory. In the present study, we examined whether this stage division is warranted by attempting to corroborate the existence of an early, high-capacity form of VSTM. The results of four experiments did not support Sligte et al.'s claim, since we did not obtain evidence for VSTM retention that exceeded traditional estimates of capacity. However, performance approaching that observed in Sligte et al. can be achieved through extensive practice, providing a clear explanation for their findings. Our evidence favors the standard view of VSTM as a limited-capacity system that maintains a few object representations in a relatively durable form.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Does visual short-term memory have a high-capacity stage?
- Creators
- Michi Matsukura - Department of Psychology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA. michi-matsukura@uiowa.eduAndrew Hollingworth
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Psychonomic bulletin & review, Vol.18(6), pp.1098-1104
- DOI
- 10.3758/s13423-011-0153-2
- PMID
- 21935737
- PMCID
- PMC3248760
- ISSN
- 1069-9384
- eISSN
- 1531-5320
- Grant note
- R01 EY017356-01 / NEI NIH HHS R01 EY017356 / NEI NIH HHS R01EY017356 / NEI NIH HHS
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 12/2011
- Academic Unit
- Psychological and Brain Sciences
- Record Identifier
- 9984213416102771
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