Evidence for 40-Hz oscillatory short-term visual memory revealed by human reaction-time measurements.
Four experiments show that presentation of a synchronous premask frame within a 40-Hz, flickering premask matrix primes subsequent detection of a Kanizsa-type square by generation of a 40-Hz prime. Reaction time (RT) priming effects indicated a 150-200-ms prime duration following premask display. RTs were also found to be sensitive to the phase relationship between offset of the premask display relative to the onset time of the target: Priming effects were maximal when the target was presented out of phase with premask presentation (i.e., at interstimulus intervals displaced by 180 degrees relative to the 40-Hz rhythm of premask-frame presentation). Taken together, these results demonstrate the existence of a very short-term visual memory that oscillates at 40 Hz. The findings are discussed in the context of complementary psychological and neurophysiological findings related to visual-object coding and the role of gamma-band activity in the brain.
Elliott
M A
MA
Institut für Allgemeine Psychologie, Universität Leipzig, Germany. elliott@uni-leipzig.de
Müller
H J
HJ
D000328:Adult; D003463:Cues; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008570:Memory, Short-Term / Q000502:physiology*; D010470:Perceptual Masking; D010507:Periodicity; D011601:Psychophysics; D011930:Reaction Time; D014796:Visual Perception / Q000502:physiology*