Fixation Effects on Forward and Backward Recall in a Spatial Working Memory Task

Spatial working memory is the ability to remember a location where something is perceived and the ability to recall a series of visited locations. During the last few decades, a great deal of research has specifically examined spatial working memory. A commonly used task to investigate spatial working memory is the Corsi blocks task, which is used originally as a neuropsychological assessment and which is now used also in empirical studies.

This study was designed to investigate whether fixation on the items to be remembered provided a beneficial effect on spatial working memory. Twenty-four undergraduate and graduate students (12 men, 12 women; M age = 21.5 yr., SD = 1.3, range = 18 - 24) volunteered to participate in the experiment. All had normal or corrected-to-normal vision. For the experiment, participants performed a computerized spatial working memory task based on the Corsi blocks task. Participants were tested individually in a private room. After the nine-point calibration procedure, the memory task was initiated. Participants were asked to recall a sequence of seven squares in the forward or the backward order. Participants were instructed to respond as quickly and accurately as possible. Participants’ responses in the memory task were classified into any one of the three categories: correct recall, location error, or order error. Eye movements scored in the memory task were analyzed for the fixation duration.

The results showed that the benefit by fixation was limited on serial position 6 for backward recall, where participants were able to recall immediately. No benefit was apparent by fixation for forward recall. Rather, for backward recall, recall performance was impaired at serial positions 1 and 3, or the latter part of recall, by requiring fixation on each target. Examination of details of the impairment revealed that order errors were increased.

In sum, in this study, a beneficial effect on recall performance by fixation on the items to be remembered was shown to a limited degree. However, if the methodological problem is eliminated, then the benefit of fixation can be demonstrated. Furthermore, the results suggest that some memory processes which proceed without fixation on the items being presented are relied upon to a greater degree for backward recall.

Article by Yuhei Oi, et al, from Japan.

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