The Interplay of Long-Term Memory and Working Memory: When Does Object-Color Prior Knowledge Affect Color Visual Working Memory?

• Published in: Journal of experimental psychology. Human perception and performance 2023-02, Vol.49 (2), p.236-262
• Main Authors: Sobrinho, Nuno D., Souza, Alessandra S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Associations; Color; Elaboration; Encoding; Episodic memory; Estimation; Female; Human; Humans; Knowledge; Long Term Memory; Male; Memory; Memory, Episodic; Memory, Long-Term; Memory, Short-Term; Mental Recall; Prior knowledge; Retrieval; Short Term Memory; Task; Tests; Visual Memory; Visual Perception
• ISSN: 0096-1523; 1939-1277
• DOI: 10.1037/xhp0001071

Elaboration enriches newly encoded information by connecting it to prior knowledge. Here, we tested if prior knowledge about object-color associations improves visual working memory (VWM) for colors. A sequence of four colored objects was presented in four screen locations for a continuous color reproduction test. Object-color associations were either congruent with prior knowledge (e.g., red tomato) or incongruent (e.g., blue tomato). In Experiments 1 and 2, congruency had no effect on memory irrespective of memoranda format (images or words), encoding time (1,500 vs. 4,500 ms), and an instruction to elaborate. In Experiment 3, the object was also tested with a three-alternative forced-choice before or after probing color memory. We also included neutral objects (no color association) and abstract shapes and tested VWM and episodic memory. Congruent items were remembered better than in all other conditions, which did not systematically differ. In Experiment 4, we assessed the congruency effect when only color or both color and object were tested. Congruent objects were remembered better only when both features were tested. Hence, prior knowledge boosts VWM only when this knowledge is relevant at test. Our results suggest that retrieval manipulations can be critical for promoting the use of long-term memory knowledge. Public Significance Statement A long-standing question is how we can leverage long-term memory knowledge to bypass the capacity limitations of working memory. Working memory keeps a small amount of information accessible to guide our thoughts and actions. Elaboration is a memory strategy that capitalizes on prior knowledge to boost the retention of new memories. Here, we tested if prior knowledge about object-color associations can enhance retention of colors in visual working memory. When only color was test relevant, providing object-color associations at encoding did not substantially boost memory irrespective of how prior knowledge was activated (images or words), the amount of study time, and a direct instruction to elaborate. When object and color were test relevant, an elaborative benefit was observed. Our findings start to map the conditions that promote the exchange of information between working memory and long-term memory: For elaboration to alleviate memory limitations, associations need to be activated at retrieval.