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Non-visual spatial strategies are effective for maintaining precise information in visual working memory

DOI: 10.1016/j.cognition.2024.105907
Reeder, R. R., Pounder, Z., Figueroa, A., Jüllig, A., & Azañón, E. (2024). Non-visual spatial strategies are effective for maintaining precise information in visual working memory. Cognition, 251, 105907. doi:10.1016/j.cognition.2024.105907

Abstract

Visual working memory content is commonly thought to be composed of a precise visual representation of stimulus information (e.g., color, shape). Nevertheless, previous research has shown that individuals represent this visual information in different formats, historically dichotomized into "verbal" and "visual" formats. With growing popular knowledge of aphantasia, or the absence of sensory mental imagery, recent studies have demonstrated that individuals with aphantasia perform similarly to individuals with typical imagery on visual working memory tasks. This suggest that the use of non-visual strategies may be sufficient to perform visual working memory tasks, which were previously thought to be strictly visual. To investigate the effects of different strategies on performance in a visual working memory task, we recruited individuals across the visual imagery spectrum and tested their ability to identify relatively small (3°), medium (6°), or large (10°) changes in the degree of orientation of gratings held in working memory. Subsequently, participants indicated the extent to which they used five different strategies: visual, spatial, verbal, semantic, and sensorimotor. Results revealed that individuals with aphantasia and typical imagery performed similarly to each other across all task difficulty levels. Individuals with typical imagery dominantly used visuospatial strategies, but surprisingly, individuals with aphantasia overwhelmingly preferred the use of non-visual spatial and sensorimotor strategies over verbal strategies. These results suggest that non-visual spatial and sensorimotor strategies can be adopted in visual working memory tasks and these strategies are equally effective as visuospatial strategies. This calls for a rethinking of the "visual" versus "verbal" dichotomy, and provides evidence for the use of other non-visual mental representations in working memory tasks.

Authors

  • Reshanne R. Reeder5
  • Zoë Pounder5
  • Alec Figueroa2
  • Antonia Jüllig1
  • Elena Azañón3

Overview/Introduction

Our understanding of how the mind processes and stores visual information is evolving. Traditionally, it was believed that visual working memory relied heavily on visual imagery. However, recent insights into aphantasia—a condition where individuals lack sensory mental imagery—challenge this notion. This study explores how people across the visual imagery spectrum, including those with aphantasia, perform on visual working memory tasks and the strategies they use.

Methodology

  • Participants: 98 adult volunteers, including individuals with typical imagery and those with aphantasia.
  • Task: Participants were asked to remember the orientation of visual patterns and identify changes in their orientation.
  • Strategies: Participants reported using five strategies: visual, spatial, verbal, semantic, and sensorimotor.
  • Procedure: The study was conducted online, with participants completing a visual working memory task followed by a strategy questionnaire.

Key Findings

  • Performance: Individuals with aphantasia performed similarly to those with typical imagery across all task difficulty levels.
  • Strategy Use:
  • Aphantasics: Preferred non-visual spatial and sensorimotor strategies.
  • Typical Imagers: Used a mix of visual, spatial, and sensorimotor strategies.
  • Surprising Insight: Non-visual strategies were as effective as visual strategies in completing the tasks.

Implications

  • Rethinking Memory Strategies: The study suggests that visual working memory tasks can be effectively performed using non-visual strategies. This challenges the traditional view that visual tasks require visual strategies.
  • Broader Applications: Understanding these strategies could improve cognitive training and educational methods, especially for individuals with aphantasia or other sensory processing differences.

Limitations

  • Task Complexity: The tasks used did not require complex imagery, which might influence strategy use in more demanding scenarios.
  • Strategy Overlap: Some participants may have found it difficult to distinguish between different types of imagery, suggesting a need for more precise measurement tools in future research.
This study highlights the versatility of the human mind in processing and storing information, showing that even in the absence of visual imagery, individuals can effectively use alternative strategies to achieve similar outcomes.