title: Dissociable roles of different types of working memory load in visual detection.
abstract: We contrasted the effects of different types of working memory (WM) load on detection. Considering the sensory-recruitment hypothesis of visual short-term memory (VSTM) within load theory (e.g., Lavie, 2010) led us to predict that VSTM load would reduce visual-representation capacity, thus leading to reduced detection sensitivity during maintenance, whereas load on WM cognitive control processes would reduce priority-based control, thus leading to enhanced detection sensitivity for a low-priority stimulus. During the retention interval of a WM task, participants performed a visual-search task while also asked to detect a masked stimulus in the periphery. Loading WM cognitive control processes (with the demand to maintain a random digit order [vs. fixed in conditions of low load]) led to enhanced detection sensitivity. In contrast, loading VSTM (with the demand to maintain the color and positions of six squares [vs. one in conditions of low load]) reduced detection sensitivity, an effect comparable with that found for manipulating perceptual load in the search task. The results confirmed our predictions and established a new functional dissociation between the roles of different types of WM load in the fundamental visual perception process of detection.
authors.affiliation: Center for Applied Neuroscience, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus. nkonstantinou@gmail.com
authors.forename: Nikos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Konstantinou
authors.forename: Nilli
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lavie
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D056344:Executive Function / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008570:Memory, Short-Term / Q000502:physiology*; D017603:Signal Detection, Psychological / Q000502:physiology*; D014796:Visual Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult