Visuospatial bootstrapping: Binding useful visuospatial information during verbal working memory encoding does not require set-shifting executive resources

Abstract

Immediate serial recall of digits is better when the digits are shown by highlighting them in a familiar array, such as a phone keypad, compared with presenting them serially in a single location, a pattern referred to as "visuospatial bootstrapping." This pattern implies the establishment of temporary links between verbal and spatial working memory, alongside access to information in long-term memory. However, the role of working memory control processes like those implied by the "Central Executive" in bootstrapping has not been directly investigated. Here, we report a study addressing this issue, focusing on executive processes of attentional shifting. Tasks in which information has to be sequenced are thought to be heavily dependent on shifting. Memory for digits presented in keypads versus single locations was assessed under two secondary task load conditions, one with and one without a sequencing requirement, and hence differing in the degree to which they invoke shifting. Results provided clear evidence that multimodal binding (visuospatial bootstrapping) can operate independently of this form of executive control process.

Visuospatial bootstrapping: spatialized displays enhance digit and nonword sequence learning

“…Picture superiority seems more linked to slower recollective processes than faster familiarity‐oriented processes 41 . Although this is compatible with the results presented here, it does perhaps sit a little less comfortably with emerging evidence that booststrapping may require limited higher‐level processing 19 …”

“…Typically, performance is improved with keypad displays. Bootstrapping effects have been replicated frequently 15–23 …”

Can valuable information be prioritized in verbal working memory?

“…Experiment 3 therefore investigated how working memory for items in an auditoryverbal sequence that differ in value might change when executive resources are reduced during encoding and maintenance. Participants were instructed to prioritize a valuable digit whilst completing either a simple or a complex verbal task (adapted from Calia et al, 2018).…”

“…Based on previous research indicating that executive resources are involved in immediate serial recall, an overall main effect of concurrent task was expected, with poorer performance in the complex condition (Baddeley et al, 2009;Calia et al, 2018;St. Clair-Thompson & Allen, 2013).…”

“…A 2 x 2 x 9 within-subjects design was employed, which manipulated prioritization (Prioritize-SP5 vs. Control), concurrent task (no concurrent task vs. simple concurrent task) and SP (1-9). The materials and procedure were identical to Experiment 1a, except that in the simple concurrent task conditions, participants were presented with a randomly selected day of the week and a month of the year (e.g., Monday, July) at the centre of the screen for 1000ms before the fixation cross (Calia, Darling, Havelka, & Allen, 2018). Participants were told to repeat this aloud (e.g., Monday, July, Monday, July) until the test probe was displayed.…”