Abstract
Many theories have proposed that visual working memory plays an important role in visual search. In contrast, by showing that a nonspatial working memory load did not interfere with search efficiency, Woodman, Vogel, and Luck (2001) recently proposed that the role of working memory in visual search is insignificant. However, the visual search process may interfere with spatial working memory. In the present study, a visual search task was performed concurrently with either a spatial working memory task (Experiment 1) or a nonspatial working memory task (Experiment 2). We found that the visual search process interfered with a spatial working memory load, but not with a nonspatial working memory load. These results suggest that there is a distinction between spatial and nonspatial working memory in terms of interactions with visual search tasks. These results imply that the visual search process and spatial working memory storage require the same limited-capacity mechanisms.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 275-281 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | Psychonomic Bulletin and Review |
| Volume | 11 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2004 Apr |
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All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Experimental and Cognitive Psychology
- Developmental and Educational Psychology
- Arts and Humanities (miscellaneous)
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The role of spatial working memory in visual search efficiency. / Oh, Sei Hwan; Kim, Min Shik.
In: Psychonomic Bulletin and Review, Vol. 11, No. 2, 04.2004, p. 275-281.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
TY - JOUR
T1 - The role of spatial working memory in visual search efficiency
AU - Oh, Sei Hwan
AU - Kim, Min Shik
PY - 2004/4
Y1 - 2004/4
N2 - Many theories have proposed that visual working memory plays an important role in visual search. In contrast, by showing that a nonspatial working memory load did not interfere with search efficiency, Woodman, Vogel, and Luck (2001) recently proposed that the role of working memory in visual search is insignificant. However, the visual search process may interfere with spatial working memory. In the present study, a visual search task was performed concurrently with either a spatial working memory task (Experiment 1) or a nonspatial working memory task (Experiment 2). We found that the visual search process interfered with a spatial working memory load, but not with a nonspatial working memory load. These results suggest that there is a distinction between spatial and nonspatial working memory in terms of interactions with visual search tasks. These results imply that the visual search process and spatial working memory storage require the same limited-capacity mechanisms.
AB - Many theories have proposed that visual working memory plays an important role in visual search. In contrast, by showing that a nonspatial working memory load did not interfere with search efficiency, Woodman, Vogel, and Luck (2001) recently proposed that the role of working memory in visual search is insignificant. However, the visual search process may interfere with spatial working memory. In the present study, a visual search task was performed concurrently with either a spatial working memory task (Experiment 1) or a nonspatial working memory task (Experiment 2). We found that the visual search process interfered with a spatial working memory load, but not with a nonspatial working memory load. These results suggest that there is a distinction between spatial and nonspatial working memory in terms of interactions with visual search tasks. These results imply that the visual search process and spatial working memory storage require the same limited-capacity mechanisms.
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UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=4344703897&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3758/BF03196570
DO - 10.3758/BF03196570
M3 - Article
C2 - 15260193
AN - SCOPUS:4344703897
VL - 11
SP - 275
EP - 281
JO - Psychonomic Bulletin and Review
JF - Psychonomic Bulletin and Review
SN - 1069-9384
IS - 2
ER -