title: Task-dependent representation of moving objects within working memory in obstacle avoidance.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of the study was the quantitative analysis of the working memory representation of dynamic objects related to gaze movement behavior.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighteen subjects participated in a virtual street-crossing paradigm. The primary task was collisions avoidance. To investigate the representation format, during a sub-task subjects were asked to reconstruct the traffic scene from memory.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The distribution of cars positioned during the sub-task reveals a task-dependent (i.e., collision-relevant) representation of about four cars. In contrast, analysis of gaze behavior did not show a preference for collision-prone cars.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Subjects avoided collisions efficiently by applying a gaze strategy adequate to create a representation that fulfills the demands of the task. Collision-prone cars are more likely to be represented in memory, but not more likely to be fixated.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Biology, Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Tuebingen, Germany. gregor.hardiess@uni-tuebingen.de
authors.forename: Gregor
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hardiess
authors.forename: Hanspeter A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Mallot
mesh_terms: D001362:Avoidance Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D005133:Eye Movements / Q000502:physiology*; D005403:Fixation, Ocular; D006801:Humans; D008570:Memory, Short-Term / Q000502:physiology*; D011939:Mental Recall; D009039:Motion Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis