Similarity effects in visual working memory

Abstract

Perceptual similarity is an important property of multiple stimuli. Its computation supports a wide range of cognitive functions, including reasoning, categorization, and memory recognition. It is important, therefore, to determine why previous research has found conflicting effects of interitem similarity on visual working memory. Studies reporting a similarity advantage have used simple stimuli whose similarity varied along a featural continuum. Studies reporting a similarity disadvantage have used complex stimuli from either a single or multiple categories. To elucidate stimulus conditions for similarity effects in visual working memory, we tested memory for complex stimuli (faces) whose similarity varied along a morph continuum. Participants encoded 3 morphs generated from a single face identity in the similar condition, or 3 morphs generated from different face identities in the dissimilar condition. After a brief delay, a test face appeared at one of the encoding locations for participants to make a same/different judgment. Two experiments showed that similarity enhanced memory accuracy without changing the response criterion. These findings support previous computational models that incorporate featural variance as a component of working memory load. They delineate limitations of models that emphasize cortical resources or response decisions.

When “capacity” changes with set size: Ensemble representations support the detection of across-category changes in visual working memory

“…In addition, ensemble information can inform memory for complex stimuli, such as the perceived emotion of a neutral face (Corbin & Crawford, 2018). For example, Jiang, Lee, Asaad, & Remington (2016) found high similarity along a feature dimension (i.e., face identity) actually facilitated memory performance compared to a low similarity condition, likely by reducing noise in the memory representation via ensemble information (in contrast to predictions that more distinct items should improve memory by reducing competition, e.g., Cohen, Konkle, Rhee, Nakayama, & Alvarez, 2014).…”

Interactions between visual working memory representations

“…Indeed, there is ample evidence that perceptual grouping affects observers’ performance on WM tasks (Clevenger & Hummel, 2013; Jiang, Olson, & Chun, 2000; Woodman, Vecera, & Luck, 2003; Xu, 2006; Xu & Chun, 2007). Second, studies have found that interitem similarity improves observers’ performance on WM tasks (Jiang, Lee, Asaad, & Remington, 2016; Kahana & Sekuler. 2002; Lin & Luck, 2009; Sims, Jacobs, & Knill, 2012; Swan & Wyble, 2014; Viswanathan, Perl, Visscher, Kahana, & Sekuler, 2010).…”

Perceptual grouping boosts visual working memory capacity and reduces effort during retention

“…Visual confusion errors can occur (Awh, Barton, & Vogel, ), particularly in the recall of visually presented verbal information (Logie, Della Sala, Wynn, & Baddeley, ; Logie, Saito, Morita, Varma, & Norris, ; Saito, Logie, Morita, & Law, ) or when visual information must be recalled in serial order (Jalbert, Saint‐Aubin, & Tremblay, ). Other evidence contrarily indicates that feature similarities do not impair visual memory, and under some circumstances, similarity may even enhance visual memory (Jiang, Lee, Asaad, & Remington, ; Lin & Luck, ; Sun et al ., ). Sun et al .…”