Space Provides Structure to Your Memory
Visual working memory enables us to temporarily retain and use information, such as when navigating traffic or remembering the location of an object. Cognitive psychologist Eelke de Vries investigated how this memory is organized and whether memories are arranged based on space (where an object was located) or time (the order in which objects appeared). Additionally, he examined whether this organization remains stable or changes over time.
De Vries demonstrates that visual working memory structures information within a spatial reference frame, even when the location of objects is not relevant to the task. During both the retention and retrieval of memories, the brain continues to utilize the original locations. This is also true when objects must be remembered based on their temporal order, such as whether an object was shown first or second. Despite the emphasis on temporal information, memory content remains spatially organized. These findings suggest that space is a fundamental organizing principle within visual working memory.
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