Distractor interference stays constant despite variation in working memory load
Copyright policy )Distractor interference stays constant despite variation in working memory load
Previous studies have shown that working memory (WM) plays an important role in selective attention, sothat high WM load leads to inefficient distractor inhibition, in comparison with low WM load. In the present study, we examined the effect of WM on distractor processing while the extent of attentional focus was held constant. Our results show that WM load affected distractor processing only when it was positively correlated with the extent of attentional focus. When the latter was held constant, the effect ofWM became negligible. Furthermore, when low WM load was paired with a wide attentional focus and high WM load was matched with a narrow attentional focus, greater distractor processing was found when the WM load was low than when it was high. These results suggest that efficient distractor inhibition may require only minimal WM resources and that the effect of WM on distractor processing is more complex than has previously been assumed.
- University of Canterbury New Zealand
memory, Cognition, Memory, Short-Term, Fields of Research::380000 Behavioural and Cognitive Sciences::380100 Psychology::380102 Learning, 150, Humans, Attention, Fields of Research::380000 Behavioural and Cognitive Sciences::380100 Psychology::380101 Sensory processes perception and performance, cognition and language, Cues
memory, Cognition, Memory, Short-Term, Fields of Research::380000 Behavioural and Cognitive Sciences::380100 Psychology::380102 Learning, 150, Humans, Attention, Fields of Research::380000 Behavioural and Cognitive Sciences::380100 Psychology::380101 Sensory processes perception and performance, cognition and language, Cues
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