title: Different states in visual working memory: when it guides attention and when it does not.
abstract: Recent studies have revealed a strong relationship between visual working memory and selective attention, such that attention is biased by what is currently on our mind. However, other data show that not all memorized items influence the deployment of attention, thus calling for a distinction within working memory: whereas active memory items function as an attentional template and directly affect perception, other, accessory items do not. We review recent evidence that items compete for the status of 'attentional template' that contains only one object at a time. Neurophysiological results provide insight into these different memory states by revealing a more intricate organization of working memory than was previously thought.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cognitive Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Van der Boechorststraat 1, 1081 BT Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Christian N L
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Olivers
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Peters
authors.forename: Roos
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Houtkamp
authors.forename: Pieter R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Roelfsema
mesh_terms: D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology*; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D004569:Electroencephalography; D006801:Humans; D008570:Memory, Short-Term / Q000502:physiology*; D014796:Visual Perception / Q000502:physiology*