The Effect of Priorizing Information in Working Memory on Later Behavioural Interference (360G-Wellcome-211776_Z_18_Z)

This experiment will investigate how prioritised information is represented in working memory (WM) through looking at the serial dependence effect. Myers and colleagues (2017) have suggested that items which are prioritised in WM are transformed into action-ready representations. Therefore, the theory predicts that the difference between prioritised and non-prioritised representations in WM will be reflected in behavioural findings. The serial dependence effect occurs when visual information from the recent past biases perception and behaviour at the present moment (Fischer & Whitney, 2014). If prioritised WM items were stored in an action-oriented format, we predict it will show these interference effects in behaviour more than non-prioritised information. By using an orientation adjustment paradigm, we will measure the serial dependence effect for prioritised WM items (which have been retro-cued) versus non-prioritised WM items. In addition, we will vary the type of testing (forced choice versus free recall), predicting that more interference will occur when the tests are the same than when different, due to the action-based nature of the WM representation. Initially we will use behavioural measures (reaction times) to measure the interference effects, extending to EEG to measure neural evidence for the carry-over effects.