Oculomotor preparation as a rehearsal mechanism in spatial working memory

Pearson, D.G.; Ball, K.; Smith, D.T.

Abstract

There is little consensus regarding the specific processes responsible for encoding, maintenance, and retrieval of information in visuo-spatial working memory (VSWM). One influential theory is that VSWM may involve activation of the eye-movement (oculomotor) system. In this study we experimentally prevented healthy participants from planning or executing saccadic eye-movements during the encoding, maintenance, and retrieval stages of visual and spatial working memory tasks. Participants experienced a significant reduction in spatial memory span only when oculomotor preparation was prevented during encoding or maintenance. In contrast there was no reduction when oculomotor preparation was prevented only during retrieval. These results show that (a) involvement of the oculomotor system is necessary for optimal maintenance of directly-indicated locations in spatial working memory and (b) oculomotor preparation is not necessary during retrieval from spatial working memory. We propose that this study is the first to unambiguously demonstrate that the oculomotor system contributes to the maintenance of spatial locations in working memory independently from the involvement of covert attention.

Citation

Pearson, D., Ball, K., & Smith, D. (2014). Oculomotor preparation as a rehearsal mechanism in spatial working memory. Cognition, 132(3), 416-428. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cognition.2014.05.006

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: May 10, 2014
• Online Publication Date: Jun 6, 2014
• Publication Date: Sep 1, 2014
• Deposit Date: Oct 30, 2013
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 16, 2014
• Journal: Cognition
• Print ISSN: 0010-0277
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 132
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 416-428
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cognition.2014.05.006
• Keywords: Visual, Spatial, Working memory, Eye movement, Attention, Saccade.
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1447795