Abstract
Humans show implicit memory for complex spatial layouts, which aids in subsequent processing of these layouts. Research efforts in the past 5 years have focused primarily on a single session of training involving a dozen repeated displays. Yet every day, people encounter many more visual layouts than were presented in such experiments. In this study, we trained subjects to learn 60 repeated displays, randomly intermixed within 1,800 nonrepeated displays, spread over 5 consecutive days. On each day, the subjects conducted visual search on 360 new displays and a new set of 12 repeated displays, each repeated 30 times. Contextual memory was observed daily. One week after the fifth session, the subjects still searched faster on the repeated displays learned previously. We conclude that the visual system has a high capacity for learning and retaining repeated spatial context, an ability that may compensate for our severe limitations in visual attention and working memory.
Article PDF
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Anderson, M. C., &Neely, J. H. (1996). Interference and inhibition in memory retrieval. In E. L. Bjork & R. A. Bjork (Eds.),Memory (pp. 237–313). San Diego: Academic Press.
Chapman, L. J., Chapman, J. P., Curran, T. E., &Miller, M. B. (1994). Do children and elderly show heightened semantic priming? How to answer the question.Developmental Review,14, 159–185.
Chun, M. M., &Jiang, Y. (1998). Contextual cueing: Implicit learning and memory of visual context guides spatial attention.Cognitive Psychology,36, 28–71.
Chun, M. M., &Jiang, Y. (1999). Top-down attentional guidance based on implicit learning of visual covariation.Psychological Science,10, 360–365.
Chun, M. M., &Jiang, Y. (2003). Implicit, long-term spatial contextual memory.Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, & Cognition,29, 224–234.
Crowder, R. G. (1976).Principles of learning and memory. Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.
Endo, N., &Takeda, Y. (2004). Selective learning of spatial configuration and object identity in visual search.Perception & Psychophysics,66, 293–302.
Fiser, J., &Aslin, R. N. (2001). Unsupervised statistical learning of higher-order spatial structures from visual scenes.Psychological Science,12, 499–504.
Jacoby, L. L. (1983). Perceptual enhancement: Persistent effects of an experience.Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, & Cognition,9, 21–38.
Kolers, P. A. (1976). Pattern analyzing memory.Science,191, 1280–1281.
Lassaline, M. E., &Logan, G. D. (1993). Memory-based automaticity in the discrimination of visual numerosity.Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, & Cognition,19, 561–581.
Levin, D. T., &Simons, D. J. (1997). Failure to detect changes to attended objects in motion pictures.Psychonomic Bulletin & Review,4, 501–506.
Logan, G. D. (1988). Toward an instance theory of automatization.Psychological Review,95, 492–527.
Lustig, C., &Hashler, L. (2001a). Implicit memory is not immune to interference.Psychological Bulletin,127, 629–650.
Lustig, C., &Hashler, L. (2001b). Implicit memory is vulnerable to proactive interference.Psychological Science,12, 408–412.
Olson, I. R., &Chun, M. M. (2001). Temporal contextual cueing of visual attention.Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, & Cognition,27, 1299–1313.
Osgood, C. E. (1953).Method and theory in experimental psychology. New York: Oxford University Press.
Rensink, R. A. (2002). Change detection.Annual Review of Psychology,53, 245–277.
Rensink, R. A., O’Regan, J. K., &Clark, J. J. (1997). To see or not to see: The need for attention to perceive changes in scenes.Psychological Science,8, 368–373.
Schacter, D. L. (1996).Searching for memory: The brain, the mind, and the past. New York: Basic Books.
Schneider, W., &Shiffrin, R. M. (1977). Controlled and automatic human information processing: I. Detection, search, and attention.Psychological Review,84, 1–66.
Simons, D. J., &Levin, D. T. (1998). Failure to detect changes to people during a real-world interaction.Psychonomic Bulletin & Review,5, 644–649.
Tulving, E., &Schacter, D. L. (1990). Priming and human memory systems.Science,247, 301–306.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
This research was supported by ARO LS-46926 and NIH MH071788.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Jiang, Y., Song, JH. & Rigas, A. High-capacity spatial contextual memory. Psychonomic Bulletin & Review 12, 524–529 (2005). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03193799
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03193799