title: Control of information in working memory: Encoding and removal of distractors in the complex-span paradigm.
abstract: The article reports four experiments with complex-span tasks in which encoding of memory items alternates with processing of distractors. The experiments test two assumptions of a computational model of complex span, SOB-CS: (1) distractor processing impairs memory because distractors are encoded into working memory, thereby interfering with memoranda; and (2) free time following distractors is used to remove them from working memory by unbinding their representations from list context. Experiment 1 shows that distractors are erroneously chosen for recall more often than not-presented stimuli, demonstrating that distractors are encoded into memory. Distractor intrusions declined with longer free time, as predicted by distractor removal. Experiment 2 shows these effects even when distractors precede the memory list, ruling out an account based on selective rehearsal of memoranda during free time. Experiments 3 and 4 test the notion that distractors decay over time. Both experiments show that, contrary to the notion of distractor decay, the chance of a distractor intruding at test does not decline with increasing time since encoding of that distractor. Experiment 4 provides additional evidence against the prediction from distractor decay that distractor intrusions decline over an unfilled retention interval. Taken together, the results support SOB-CS and rule out alternative explanations. Data and simulation code are available on Open Science Framework: osf.io/3ewh7.
authors.affiliation: University of Zurich, Switzerland. Electronic address: k.oberauer@psychologie.uzh.ch.
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Oberauer
authors.affiliation: University of Bristol, United Kingdom; University of Western Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lewandowsky
mesh_terms: D001288:Attention; D001499:Bayes Theorem; D003198:Computer Simulation; D006801:Humans; D008570:Memory, Short-Term; D011939:Mental Recall; D008960:Models, Psychological; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Complex span; Decay; Interference; Working memory