title: Stimulus-specific mechanisms of visual short-term memory.
abstract: The retention of spatial information in visual short-term memory was assessed by measuring spatial frequency discrimination thresholds with a two-interval forced-choice task varying the time interval between the two gratings to be compared. The memory of spatial frequency information was perfect across 10-sec interstimulus intervals. Presentation of a "memory masker" grating during the interstimulus interval may interfere with short-term memory. This interference depends on the relative spatial frequency of the test and masker gratings, with maximum interference at spatial frequency differences of 1-1.5 octaves and beyond. This range of interference with short-term memory is comparable to the bandwidth of sensory masking or adaptation. A change of the relative orientation of test and masker gratings does not produce interference with spatial frequency discrimination thresholds. These results suggest stimulus-specific interactions at higher-level representations of visual form.
authors.affiliation: Vision Laboratory, University of Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Magnussen
authors.forename: M W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Greenlee
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Asplund
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dyrnes
mesh_terms: D004192:Discrimination, Psychological / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008570:Memory, Short-Term / Q000502:physiology*; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual / Q000502:physiology*; D010470:Perceptual Masking / Q000502:physiology; D012684:Sensory Thresholds / Q000502:physiology; D013997:Time Factors