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Object‐substitution masking modulates spatial attention deployment and the encoding of information in visual short‐term memory: Insights from occipito‐parietal ERP components
Author(s) -
Prime David J.,
Pluchino Patrik,
Eimer Martin,
Dell'acqua Roberto,
Jolicœur Pierre
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
psychophysiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.661
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1469-8986
pISSN - 0048-5772
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-8986.2010.01133.x
Subject(s) - backward masking , psychology , n2pc , cognitive psychology , masking (illustration) , offset (computer science) , visual masking , visual short term memory , event related potential , neuroscience , computer science , communication , visual attention , electroencephalography , working memory , visual perception , cognition , art , perception , visual arts , programming language
If object‐substitution masking (OSM) arises from mask representations replacing target representations, OSM should impede the formation of representations in visual short‐term memory (VSTM). We utilized event‐related potentials to examine the effect of OSM on target processing. An N2pc was observed on trials with delayed‐offset masks, indicating that focused attention was directed to the target. The sustained posterior contralateral negativity (SPCN), an index of VSTM storage, was observed in delayed‐offset trials only on trials with correct responses. This supports the hypothesis that inaccurate performance on delayed‐offset trials arises from a failure to encode the target in VSTM. On co‐termination trials, accuracy was high and neither the N2pc nor SPCN was observed. This indicates that, in the absence of masking, the task was accomplished by maintaining a diffuse attentional state that enabled the joint encoding of the potential target items.