Testing effects in visual short-term memory: The case of an object's size

Memory & Cognition
Tal Makovski

Abstract

In many daily activities, we need to form and retain temporary representations of an object's size. Typically, such visual short-term memory (VSTM) representations follow perception and are considered reliable. Here, participants were asked to hold in mind a single simple object for a short duration and to reproduce its size by adjusting the length and width of a test probe. Experiment 1 revealed two powerful findings: First, similar to a recently reported perceptual illusion, participants greatly overestimated the size of open objects - ones with missing boundaries - relative to the same-size fully closed objects. This finding confirms that object boundaries are critical for size perception and memory. Second, and in contrast to perception, even the size of the closed objects was largely overestimated. Both inflation effects were substantial and were replicated and extended in Experiments 2-5. Experiments 6-8 used a different testing procedure to examine whether the overestimation effects are due to inflation of size in VSTM representations or to biases introduced during the reproduction phase. These data showed that while the overestimation of the open objects was repeated, the overestimation of the closed objects was not. Ta...Continue Reading

References

May 1, 1978·Memory & Cognition·S M Kerst, J H Howard
Jan 1, 1992·Psychological Research·D Laming, J Laming
Mar 1, 1988·Perception & Psychophysics·J Palmer
Jun 22, 2002·Journal of Experimental Psychology. Human Perception and Performance·Carmela V Gottesman, Helene Intraub
Nov 6, 2002·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Scott O MurrayDavid L Woods
Apr 8, 2003·Journal of Vision·Jochen TrieschBrian T Sullivan
Jul 31, 2004·Perception & Psychophysics·William M PetrusicJoseph V Baranski
Feb 6, 2008·Journal of Experimental Psychology. General·Andrew HollingworthSteven J Luck
Apr 1, 2008·Perception & Psychophysics·George A Alvarez, Patrick Cavanagh
Apr 4, 2008·Nature·Weiwei Zhang, Steven J Luck
Nov 13, 2008·Psychological Science·Helene Intraub, Christopher A Dickinson
Jun 8, 2012·Perception·Patrick Garrigan
May 1, 2013·Psychological Science·Timothy F BradyGeorge A Alvarez
May 6, 2017·Attention, Perception & Psychophysics·Tal Makovski

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.