title: Object-load and feature-load modulate EEG in a short-term memory task.
abstract: Behavioral studies have indicated that multiple features of one object can be stored in working memory without additional costs. In contrast, visual search experiments revealed that search for a multi-featured object takes more time than for a single-featured object. We used EEG to differentiate the effect of object-load and feature-load in a short-term memory task. We independently varied the amount of objects and features that had to be memorized. Object-load modulated P3 amplitude during encoding and induced 10 Hz oscillations during the retention interval. Feature-load modulated the P3 during retrieval. Thus, only object-load seemed to influence encoding and retention while feature-load played a crucial role during retrieval. Our results demonstrate that object-load and feature-load influence short-term memory at different stages.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005074:Evoked Potentials, Visual; D005260:Female; D005556:Form Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008570:Memory, Short-Term / Q000502:physiology*; D012153:Retention, Psychology / Q000502:physiology; D014796:Visual Perception / Q000502:physiology