1. Working-Memory Consolidation
Mark Nieuwenstein

2. Insights from the attentional blink
In the next 10 minutes ….
(1) Definition WMC
(2) Mechanisms & Representations
(3) Relationship with “attention”
(4) Time course / Methodology / Evidence
(5) Limitations
(6) Reliance on LTM
Insights from the attentional blink

3. First …. A crash course in attentional blink-o-logy
lots of studies …
Lots of theories and models …
Resource depletion
Inhibition theory
Loss of control
Two-stage theory
STST
CODAM
Boost and Bounce
eSTST
nROUSE
Locus Coeruleus theory
and more ..
Global workspace theory
ViSA

4. Archetypal Paradigm
Dual-target rapid serial visual presentation (RSVP)

5. Lag 5 – 500 ms SOA

6. Lag 2 – 200 ms SOA

7. Lag 1 – 100 ms SOA

8. % Correct Second Target
The Attentional Blink
100
% Correct Second Target
100
SOA (ms)
800

9. No effect of AB on “early” components
The Attentional Blink
P3 <–> WM
Suppressed during AB
No effect of AB on “early” components
Luck et al. (Nature 1996); Vogel et al. (JEPHPP, 1998)
100
SOA (ms)
800

10. Theories proven to be wrong (I think)
Nieuwenstein et al., 2009a; 2009b
Lots of theories and models …
Inhibition theory
CODAM
Locus Coeruleus theory
Resource depletion
STST
nROUSE
ViSA
Two-stage theory
eSTST
Global workspace theory
Loss of control
Boost and Bounce
and more …

11. Theories proven to be wrong (I think)
Precuing T2 prevents AB (Nieuwenstein et al., 2005;2006), and errors in T2 report tend to be reports of T2+1 (Chun, 1997; Vul, Nieuwenstein, & Kanwisher, 2008)
No AB in whole report task (Nieuwenstein & Potter, 2006)
Order errors: T1 <-> T2 at lag 1 (lots of studies)
Lots of theories and models …
Resource depletion
Inhibition theory
Loss of control
Two-stage theory
STST
CODAM
Boost and Bounce
eSTST
nROUSE
Locus Coeruleus theory
and more …
Global workspace theory
ViSA
Lots of theories and models …
Inhibition theory
CODAM
Locus Coeruleus theory
Resource depletion
STST
nROUSE
ViSA
Two-stage theory
eSTST
Global workspace theory
Loss of control
Boost and Bounce
Boost and

12. The episodic Simultaneous type - Serial token model eSTST Brad Wyble
(Wyble, Bowman, & Nieuwenstein,
JEPHPP 2009; JEPG 2011)
Brad Wyble
To understand, also read:
Bowman & Wyble, 2007
Chun & Potter, 1995
Kanwisher, 1987
Howard Bowman + me

13. The Model, and its answers to questions about WMC

14. The Model, and its answers to questions about WMC

15. The Model, and its answers to questions about WMC

16. Definition WMC
WMC is …
the process that creates a durable, consciously accessible representation of an otherwise fleeting trace of sensory input

17. Time since Stimulus Onset
Definition WMC
Consciously accessible representation in WM
WMC
Attention …
Sensory
Encoding
Time since Stimulus Onset

18. Definition WMC – Link to Conscious Reportability
Stanislav Dehaene
et al. TiCS 2006
Types –temporal cortex
Tokens – prefrontal cortex

19. Mechanisms and Representations
WMC involves …
A binding process that enables the establishment of a durable connection between a type and
a token (Bowman & Wyble, 2007; Wyble, Bowman, & Nieuwenstein, 2009)
Type: Representation of (the features of) a stimulus
Token: Unit capable of self-sustained activation, encodes serial order.

20. Mechanisms and Representations
Once consolidation starts, the activation of the type is sustained
by the binding process. This explains why WMC is not aborted /
interrupted by backward masking.

21. Relationship with “attention”
WMC inhibits the blaster, preventing
new targets from being attended: AB
Targets can trigger
attentional enhancement

22. Limitations … Multiple types can be bound to tokens in parallel
Inhibition between types produces interference
Order information may be lost

23. Relationship with LTM
No systematic investigations of how familiarity affects the AB (as far as I know…)
I would expect that familiarity speeds up consolidation
(and I probably don’t have time to explain why ….)

24. Thanks for your attention!
Working Memory Consolidation (WMC)
Thanks for your
attention!