Limitations of object-based feature encoding in visual short-term memory.
The present study investigated object-based feature encoding in visual short-term memory for 2 features within the same dimension that occur on different parts of an object. Using the change-detection paradigm, this experiment studied objects with 2 colors and objects with 2 orientations. Participants found it easier to monitor 1 rather than both features of such objects, even when decision noise was properly controlled for. However, no object-based benefit was observed for encoding the 2 features of each object that were of the same dimension. When similar stimuli were used but the 2 features of each object were from different dimensions (color and orientation), an object-based benefit was observed. These results thus impose a major constraint on object-based feature encoding theories by showing that only features from different dimensions can benefit from object-based encoding.
Xu
Yaoda
Y
Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA. yaoda@wjh.harvard.edu
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention; D003118:Color Perception; D004192:Discrimination, Psychological; D005260:Female; D005556:Form Perception; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008570:Memory, Short-Term; D008960:Models, Psychological; D009949:Orientation; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D011930:Reaction Time; D013028:Space Perception