The Role Of Object-based Attention On Feature Binding In Visual Working Memory

Feature binding is an important concept in the field of visual perception. However, in recent years, because working memory has become a hot spot, so that more and more researchers begin to pay attention to the characteristics of feature binding in the working memory field. Over the past decade, it has been debated whether keeping the feature binding in visual WM consumes more visual attention than the single features. Some researchers believe that the feature binding in visual working memory is automatically stored, it does not need extra attention, spatial attention and domain-general attention consistently support a relatively automatic process of feature binding in WM; Feature binding in visual WM need additional attention resources to support, but what is this additional resources?The problem has not been solved. To solve this problem, this study trying to use ERP technique to explore the role of object-based attention in retaining binding in visual WM.This study includes 3 ERP experiments, and select for contralateral delay activity( CDA)as the index. The study use the object compose of different colors and shapes as the experimental material, and use the single-probe change detection paradigm, the dependent variable is the correct rate and the amplitude of CDA. There are 3 different memory conditions: only memory color, only memory shape, and memory color and shape. Finally,the participants’ who memory color and shape of the binding relation detection accuracy rate was significantly lower than that of single feature,and amplitude of CDA the memory was significantly higher than that of single feature, which shows the participants who memory the binding relation do need extra attention resources.In Experiment 2, using the dual task paradigm, namely, in addition to working memory task, also need to complete the mental rotation task in visual working memory storage stage,which has spent the object-attention. This experiment is single factor experimental design,independent variables with the same. Behavioral data showed, when memory feature binding and detection correct rate decreased significantly and decreased more significantly than singlefeature. In EEG results, the CDA amplitude value was significantly growth, and the growth degree was significantly higher than that of single feature.The effect of memory on the feature binding of visual working memory is different from that of single feature.Experiment 3 from the view point of neuro-physiology explore the spatial attention and the general attention from central executive system’s effect on the memory of feature binding in visual working memory. Experiment 3a examine spatial attention to feature binding in visual working memory. This experiment with experiment 2 was similar, but the mental rotation task change for the visual search task that cost of spatial attention. By repeated measurement analysis of variance analysis found that in behavioral outcomes, although subjects in memory binding characteristics and individual characteristics, detection accuracy rate has been significantly reduced, but Decreased degree had no significant differences; in the EEG results, CDA amplitude that between the single feature and feature binding were significantly increased, but the increase had no significant difference.Experiment 3b test the the general attention from central executive system on the effect of feature binding in visual working memory. Experiment3 b is similar to the experiment 3a,but the visual search task change for the reverse counting task.Experiment3 b shows that spatial attention and the central executive attention control system did not produce the specific memory effect on feature binding, but also affect the the binding features and individual features.To sum up, this study concluded that the visual working memory of the bundled features of storage requires the object-attention in visual WM. In order to further illustrate the accuracy of the results, we then conduct experiment 3, to explore the role of spatial attention and domain-general in visual WM. The final results show spatial attention and domain-general attention consistently support a relatively automatic process of feature binding in WM.Therefore, this study concluded that object-attention is the fundamental factor that influence the feature binding in visual working memory.