Contrast and strength of visual memory and imagery differentially affect visual perception

Saad, E. and Silvanto, J. 2013. Contrast and strength of visual memory and imagery differentially affect visual perception. PLoS ONE. 8 (12) e84827. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0084827

TitleContrast and strength of visual memory and imagery differentially affect visual perception
TypeJournal article
AuthorsSaad, E. and Silvanto, J.
Abstract

Visual short-term memory (VSTM) and visual imagery have been shown to modulate visual perception. However, how the subjective experience of VSTM/imagery and its contrast modulate this process has not been investigated. We addressed this issue by asking participants to detect brief masked targets while they were engaged either in VSTM or visual imagery. Subjective experience of memory/imagery (strength scale), and the visual contrast of the memory/mental image (contrast scale) were assessed on a trial-by-trial basis. For both VSTM and imagery, contrast of the memory/mental image was positively associated with reporting target presence. Consequently, at the sensory level, both VSTM and imagery facilitated visual perception. However, subjective strength of VSTM was positively associated with visual detection whereas the opposite pattern was found for imagery. Thus the relationship between subjective strength of memory/imagery and visual detection are qualitatively different for VSTM and visual imagery, although their impact at the sensory level appears similar. Our results furthermore demonstrate that imagery and VSTM are partly dissociable processes.

Article numbere84827
JournalPLoS ONE
Journal citation8 (12)
ISSN1932-6203
Year2013
PublisherPublic Library of Science
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0084827
Publication dates
Published20 Dec 2013

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