Topological change induces an interference effect in visual working memory

Abstract

The “irrelevant-change distracting effect” refers to the effect of changes in irrelevant features on the performance of the target feature, which has frequently been used to study information processing in visual working memory (VWM). In the current study, we reported a novel interference effect in VWM: the topological-change interference effect (TCIE). In a series of six experiments, we examined the influence of topological and nontopological changes as irrelevant features on VWM using a color change detection paradigm. The results revealed that only topological changes, although task irrelevant, could produce a significant interference effect. In contrast, nontopological changes did not produce any evident interference effect. Moreover, the TCIE was a stable and lasting effect, regardless of changes in locations, reporting methods, particular stimulus figures, the other salient feature dimensions and delay interval times. Therefore, our results support the notion that topological invariance that defines perceptual objects plays an essential role in maintaining representations in VWM.

A new method to analyze visual efficiency in interactive web environment

“…This aligns with prior research, suggesting that human visual perception tends to identify changes related to the motion status of objects with large-scale spatial topological relationships [20], a notion also supported by the work of Livingstone and Hubel [30]. The negative effects of topological changes can be explained using the Topological Change Interference Effect reported by Wei et al [18]. Based on the "early topological perception" theory [16], topological changes in the form of holes disrupt the object's continuity and cause it to be perceived as a new object [18].…”

“…The negative effects of topological changes can be explained using the Topological Change Interference Effect reported by Wei et al [18]. Based on the "early topological perception" theory [16], topological changes in the form of holes disrupt the object's continuity and cause it to be perceived as a new object [18]. Notably, when the stimulus quantity exceeded the WM capacity, participants' attention and memory are limited, which is also evident in static single-page scenarios.…”

“…It has been concluded that topological properties are one type of important non-temporal information with great influences on visual novel stimulus temporal distance perception [17]. Wei et al [18] reported the Topological Change Interference Effect (TCIE), which supports the notion that topological invariance that defines perceptual objects plays an essential role in maintaining representations in Visual Working Memory (VWM). Subsequent study by Zhou and his team [19] also demonstrated that topological invariance primarily constrains the definition of objects.…”

Development and Validation of Paradigms Based on the Global-First Topological Approach for Alzheimer’s Disease Severity Staging

“…35 Compared with our previous study, the memory capacity of HE individuals and patients with MCI was significantly reduced, and a significant TCIE was observed only after the image presentation time was significantly prolonged, which is consistent with our previous speculation. 17 In comparison, when the second storage array underwent moderate feature changes, the repeated-benefit effect of color memory in healthy older adults was also affected to a certain extent, which was weaker than the influence of topological attribute interference, although this trend was not statistically significant. 35 In addition, we found a trend towards accuracy differences nontopological and topological conditions in the MCI group, although this trend was not significant.…”

“…We pioneered the integration of perceptual object definitions into VWM from a topological perspective by setting a memory array with three conditions (no shape change, shape change, and topological-change) to identify patients with AD. 17 With this perceptual organization paradigm, we hope to overcome the limitations of the original Navon paradigm according to the topological definition of the "basic unit of visual perception cognition". 18 Because the priority of topological properties determined by spatial adjacency and the precedent of perceptual organization of local shapes based on spatial adjacency determine global property processing, 19,20 we designed a new perceptual organizational paradigm using organizational principles as variables to determine the perceptual organizational ability of patients with AD at different stages.…”