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Discrete fixed-resolution representations in visual working memory

Author

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  • Weiwei Zhang

    (University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, USA
    Center for Mind & Brain, University of California, Davis, California 95618, USA)

  • Steven J. Luck

    (Center for Mind & Brain, University of California, Davis, California 95618, USA)

Abstract

How working memory works As well as holding a vast store of long-term memories, the human brain creates short-term memories that last only a few seconds and are essential for performing tasks such as adding two numbers or comparing the attractiveness of two faces. We know that only a limited amount of information can be stored in short-term memory, but whether we store high-quality representations of a small number of items, or a potentially infinite number of 'low resolution' items is the subject of much debate. A new study of visual working memory resolves the matter in favour of the 'high resolution' option: short-term information storage does not discard quality in favour of quantity, but stores a relatively small number of objects, as discrete fixed-resolution representations.

Suggested Citation

  • Weiwei Zhang & Steven J. Luck, 2008. "Discrete fixed-resolution representations in visual working memory," Nature, Nature, vol. 453(7192), pages 233-235, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:453:y:2008:i:7192:d:10.1038_nature06860
    DOI: 10.1038/nature06860
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Mariam Aly & Andrew P Yonelinas, 2012. "Bridging Consciousness and Cognition in Memory and Perception: Evidence for Both State and Strength Processes," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 7(1), pages 1-16, January.
    2. Shaiyan Keshvari & Ronald van den Berg & Wei Ji Ma, 2013. "No Evidence for an Item Limit in Change Detection," PLOS Computational Biology, Public Library of Science, vol. 9(2), pages 1-9, February.
    3. Alexandra M Murray & Anna C Nobre & Duncan E Astle & Mark G Stokes, 2012. "Lacking Control over the Trade-Off between Quality and Quantity in Visual Short-Term Memory," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 7(8), pages 1-10, August.
    4. Yuri A. Markov & Igor S. Utochkin, 2017. "The Effect of Object Distinctiveness on Object-Location Binding in Visual Working Memory," HSE Working papers WP BRP 79/PSY/2017, National Research University Higher School of Economics.
    5. Ken McAnally & Russell Martin, 2016. "Modelling Visual Change Detection and Identification under Free Viewing Conditions," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(2), pages 1-16, February.
    6. Siyang Kong & Xinyu Li & Benchi Wang & Jan Theeuwes, 2020. "Proactively location-based suppression elicited by statistical learning," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(6), pages 1-13, June.
    7. Yuri A. Markov & Natalia A. Tiurina & Igor S. Utochkin, 2018. "Different features are stored independently in visual working memory but mediated by object-based representations," HSE Working papers WP BRP 101/PSY/2018, National Research University Higher School of Economics.
    8. Haggar Cohen-Dallal & Isaac Fradkin & Yoni Pertzov, 2018. "Are stronger memories forgotten more slowly? No evidence that memory strength influences the rate of forgetting," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(7), pages 1-18, July.
    9. Frischkorn, Gidon T. & Wilhelm, Oliver & Oberauer, Klaus, 2022. "Process-oriented intelligence research: A review from the cognitive perspective," Intelligence, Elsevier, vol. 94(C).
    10. Jack Phu & Michael Kalloniatis & Sieu K Khuu, 2016. "The Effect of Attentional Cueing and Spatial Uncertainty in Visual Field Testing," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(3), pages 1-18, March.
    11. Loic Matthey & Paul M Bays & Peter Dayan, 2015. "A Probabilistic Palimpsest Model of Visual Short-term Memory," PLOS Computational Biology, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(1), pages 1-34, January.
    12. J David Timm & Frank Papenmeier, 2019. "Reorganization of spatial configurations in visual working memory: A matter of set size?," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(11), pages 1-16, November.
    13. Mohammad Zia Ul Haq Katshu & Giovanni d'Avossa, 2014. "Fine-Grained, Local Maps and Coarse, Global Representations Support Human Spatial Working Memory," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 9(9), pages 1-13, September.

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