Microsaccades track location-based object rehearsal in visual working memory

Vries, Eelke de; Ede, Freek van

doi:10.1101/2023.03.21.533618

Cited by 7 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 91 publications

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“…A looking at nothing effect was also observed in studies investigating how internal attention selects information from the visuospatial working memory (Linde-Domingo & Spitzer, 2023; B. Liu et al, 2022;Sahan et al, 2023, van Ede et al, 2019, 2021Vries & van Ede, 2024). Selective attention operates in a similar manner over external and internal information (e.g., Awh & Jonides, 2001;Griffin & Nobre, 2003;van Ede & Nobre, 2023;Verschooren & Egner, 2023;Zhou et al, 2022), which can also be observed in eye movements (Theeuwes et al, 2009).…”

Section: Imagery Associated With Visuospatial Memorymentioning

confidence: 67%

“…Various studies exploring internal attention shifts in the domain of visuospatial memory have consistently observed a gaze bias towards the location of an internal representation; however, they failed to demonstrate a clear functional impact on memory performance (B. Liu et al, 2022;van Ede et al, 2019;Vries & van Ede, 2024;Walcher et al, 2023b). This suggests that while internal coupling reflects the underlying cognitive processes, it may not directly enhance the effectiveness of internal selection.…”

Section: Internal Coupling As a Marker Of Internal Attention Shiftsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Internal Coupling: Eye Behavior Coupled to Visual Imagery

Korda,

Walcher,

Körner

et al. 2024

Preprint

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Our eyes do not only respond to visual perception but also to internal cognition involving visual imagery, which can be referred to as internal coupling. This review synthesizes evidence on internal coupling across diverse domains including episodic memory and simulation, visuospatial memory, numerical cognition, object movement, body movement, and brightness imagery. In each domain, eye movements consistently reflect distinct aspects of mental imagery typically akin to those seen in corresponding visual experiences. Several findings further suggest that internal coupling may not only coincide with but also supports internal cognition as evidenced by improved cognitive performance. Available theoretical accounts suggest that internal coupling may serve at least two functional roles in visual imagery: facilitating memory reconstruction and indicating shifts in internal attention. Moreover, recent insights into the neurobiology of internal coupling highlight substantially shared neural pathways in externally and internally directed cognition. The review concludes by identifying open questions and promising avenues for future research such as exploring moderating roles of context and individual differences in internal coupling.

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Section: Imagery Associated With Visuospatial Memorymentioning

confidence: 67%

Section: Internal Coupling As a Marker Of Internal Attention Shiftsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Internal Coupling: Eye Behavior Coupled to Visual Imagery

Korda,

Walcher,

Körner

et al. 2024

Preprint

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“…Traditional encoding and recall paradigms, frequently used to investigate internal coupling, rely on a sequence where information is presented visually and later retrieved (De Vries & Van Ede, 2023;Mast & Kosslyn, 2002;Spivey & Geng, 2001). In such paradigms, eye movements could be associated with the original position of the encoded memory content and co-activated when retrieving the memory content (e.g., Mast & Kosslyn, 2002;Spivey & Geng, 2001).…”

Section: The Present Studymentioning

confidence: 99%

Preprint: How workload and availability of spatial reference shape eye movement coupling in visuospatial working memory

Walcher,

Korda,

Körner

et al. 2023

Preprint

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The eyes are active during memory recall and visual mental imagery. However, the current understanding of the qualities, and factors governing these internally coupled eye movements, particularly in unrestricted gaze conditions, remains limited. To address this knowledge gap, we conducted a study with 50 participants to investigate the factors contributing to internal coupling in imagined movements including workload, the availability of visual information, and the direction of imagined movement. We designed a visuospatial working memory task in which participants mentally shifted a black patch in a matrix based on auditory direction cues (up, down, left, right). We varied workload by adjusting matrix size, manipulated availability of visual information by presenting either a blank screen (requiring participants to rely solely on their mental representation of the matrix) or relevant visual information in the form of an empty matrix, and contrasted active task performance to two control conditions involving only active or passive listening. We found that eye movements consistently aligned with the imagined movement of the patch in the matrix and, importantly, this coupling effect was not merely the result of auditory or semantic processing of the direction cues. Intriguingly, while workload influenced pupil diameter, perceived demand, and performance, it had no observable impact on internal coupling. Notably, the availability of visual information, in the form of an empty matrix vs. a blank screen, strengthened the coupling of eye movements. This enhancement manifested through increased frequency, better precision, and reduced vulnerability to noise and horizontal bias in coupled saccades. In summary, our results suggest that eye movements naturally align with imagined movements during visuospatial working memory tasks. This coupling is more efficient when supported by relevant visual information and likely occurs intrinsically, and not just as a strategy to alleviate workload.

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“…From studies with 2D displays—in which the spatial relation between memoranda and observer remains fixed ( Figure 1 a)—the role of space is well established. Space serves as a scaffold for working memory retention ( de Vries & van Ede, 2023 ; Heuer & Rolfs, 2021a ; Jiang, Olson, & Chun, 2000 ; Pertzov & Husain, 2014 ; Schneegans & Bays, 2017 ), as well as for the selection and prioritization of specific objects within working memory ( Griffin & Nobre, 2003 ; Heuer & Rolfs, 2021a ; Kuo, Rao, Lepsien, & Nobre, 2009 ; van Ede, Chekroud, & Nobre, 2019 ). One particular and recent demonstration of this involves spatial biases in gaze when selectively attending to objects in visual working memory ( de Vries, Fejer, & van Ede, 2023 ; Draschkow, Kallmayer, & Nobre, 2022 ; van Ede, Board, & Nobre, 2020 ; van Ede, Chekroud, & Nobre, 2019 ; van Ede, Deden, & Nobre, 2021 ) in the absence of anything to look at (see also Ferreira, Apel, & Henderson, 2008 ; Martarelli, Ovalle Fresa, Popic, Globig, & Rothen, 2022 ; Spivey & Geng, 2001 ; Wynn, Shen, & Ryan, 2019 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Capacity and selection in immersive visual working memory following naturalistic object disappearance

Chawoush,

Draschkow,

van Ede

2023

Journal of Vision

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Visual working memory—holding past visual information in mind for upcoming behavior—is commonly studied following the abrupt removal of visual objects from static two-dimensional (2D) displays. In everyday life, visual objects do not typically vanish from the environment in front of us. Rather, visual objects tend to enter working memory following self or object motion: disappearing from view gradually and changing the spatial relation between memoranda and observer. Here, we used virtual reality (VR) to investigate whether two classic findings from visual working memory research—a capacity of around three objects and the reliance on space for object selection—generalize to more naturalistic modes of object disappearance. Our static reference condition mimicked traditional laboratory tasks whereby visual objects were held static in front of the participant and removed from view abruptly. In our critical flow condition, the same visual objects flowed by participants, disappearing from view gradually and behind the observer. We considered visual working memory performance and capacity, as well as space-based mnemonic selection, indexed by directional biases in gaze. Despite vastly distinct modes of object disappearance and altered spatial relations between memoranda and observer, we found comparable capacity and comparable gaze signatures of space-based mnemonic selection. This finding reveals how classic findings from visual working memory research generalize to immersive situations with more naturalistic modes of object disappearance and with dynamic spatial relations between memoranda and observer.

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Microsaccades track location-based object rehearsal in visual working memory

Cited by 7 publications

References 91 publications

Internal Coupling: Eye Behavior Coupled to Visual Imagery

Internal Coupling: Eye Behavior Coupled to Visual Imagery

Preprint: How workload and availability of spatial reference shape eye movement coupling in visuospatial working memory

Capacity and selection in immersive visual working memory following naturalistic object disappearance

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