Object-substitution masking modulates spatial attention deployment and the encoding of information in visual short-term memory: insights from occipito-parietal ERP components.
If object-substitution masking (OSM) arises from mask representations replacing target representations, OSM should impede the formation of representations in visual short-term memory (VSTM). We utilized event-related potentials to examine the effect of OSM on target processing. An N2pc was observed on trials with delayed-offset masks, indicating that focused attention was directed to the target. The sustained posterior contralateral negativity (SPCN), an index of VSTM storage, was observed in delayed-offset trials only on trials with correct responses. This supports the hypothesis that inaccurate performance on delayed-offset trials arises from a failure to encode the target in VSTM. On co-termination trials, accuracy was high and neither the N2pc nor SPCN was observed. This indicates that, in the absence of masking, the task was accomplished by maintaining a diffuse attentional state that enabled the joint encoding of the potential target items.
Prime
David J
DJ
Department of Psychology, and Centre de Recherche en Neuropsychologie et Cognition, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada. david_john_prime@yahoo.com
Pluchino
Patrik
P
Eimer
Martin
M
Dell'Acqua
Roberto
R
Jolicœur
Pierre
P
D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology*; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008570:Memory, Short-Term / Q000502:physiology*; D009778:Occipital Lobe / Q000502:physiology*; D010296:Parietal Lobe / Q000502:physiology*; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual / Q000502:physiology; D010470:Perceptual Masking / Q000502:physiology*; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D013028:Space Perception / Q000502:physiology*