Re-focusing visual working memory during expected and unexpected memory tests

Abstract

A classic distinction from the domain of external attention is that between anticipatory orienting and subsequent re-orienting of attention to unexpected events. Whether and how humans also re-orient attention "in mind" following expected and unexpected working memory tests remains elusive. We leveraged spatial modulations in neural activity and gaze to isolate re-orienting within the spatial layout of visual working memory following central memory tests of certain, expected, or unexpected mnemonic content. Besides internal orienting after predictive cues, we unveil a second stage of internal attentional deployment following both expected and unexpected memory tests. Following expected tests, internal attentional deployment was not contingent on prior orienting, suggesting an additional verification - "double checking" - in memory. Following unexpected tests, re-focusing of alternative memory content was prolonged. This brings attentional re-orienting to the domain of working memory and underscores how memory tests can invoke either a verification or a revision of our internal focus.

Competing Interest Statement

The authors have declared no competing interest.

Footnotes

* The results section was updated to clarify that the fixational bias marker of internal attentional focusing in the current experiment was predominantly driven by fixational micro-saccades (<2 degrees of visual angle), rather than by larger eye movements returning to the original item locations. Additional analyses and results were added to rule out the potential contribution of peak amplitude differences to the onset and offset latency differences of the saccade bias following the memory test between valid- and invalid-cue trials. Further analyses and results were also included to examine the relationship between attentional re-orienting signatures and memory performance, addressing the imbalance between valid and invalid trials. Figure 2 was revised to more clearly illustrate saccade size as a function of time; Figure 4 was also updated. Complementary time-frequency and topographical plots of alpha lateralization following memory test were added; Supplemental files have been updated accordingly.

* https://osf.io/5wexp/