Complexity effects in visuo-spatial working memory: implications for the role of long-term memory.
Several studies have shown that the capacity of visuo-spatial working memory is limited by complexity. Using a variant of the Corsi blocks task, this paper investigates the effect of complexity of the to-be-remembered path on visuo-spatial memory span. Redundancy was determined by three Gestalt principles: symmetry, repetition, and continuation. Experiment 1 revealed an effect of path complexity. The subsequent experiments explored whether the superiority for recall of structured over complex paths can be attributed solely to the operation of visuo-spatial working memory, or whether it also reflects the use of long-term knowledge. Experiment 2 demonstrated that the effect of complexity remained, even when the mechanisms for visuo-spatial coding were removed by a secondary visuo-spatial task. In Experiments 3 and 4 subjects were trained in the recall of complex paths. This led to the creation of long-term memory representations for these paths, as shown by an improvement in their span, and a concomitant lack of transfer to new paths. Finally, Experiment 5 showed that one prior repetition of a complex path was sufficient to produce specific and long-term learning effects. These results point to the involvement of long-term memory processes in the temporary retention of visuo-spatial material for which representations exist in long-term memory. They also suggest that the effect of complexity may provide a tractable technique for investigating the mechanisms underlying the limits of visuo-spatial short-term storage.
Kemps
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Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Ghent, Henri Dunantlaan 2, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium. Eva.Kemps@rug.ac.be
D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning / Q000502:physiology; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology*; D008570:Memory, Short-Term / Q000502:physiology; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011581:Psychological Tests; D021641:Recognition, Psychology / Q000502:physiology