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Working memory capacity predicts serial dependence for facial identity

Lidström, Anette LU orcid and Bramao, Ines LU orcid (2024) Cognitive Neuroscience Society’s Annual Meeting p.106-106
Abstract
Serial dependence (SD) occurs when current perceptions are biased towards sensory input from the recent past. The present study investigated whether interindividual differences in working memory (WM) could predict SD in facial identity perception. Electroencephalography (EEG) was used to capture early perceptual face processing (N170) and WM processing (frontal negative slow waves) in a combined WM/SD task. Participants (n = 25) retained one or three cartoon faces (low/high WM load) while viewing a real facial image preceded by the presentation of a task-irrelevant face. After a 6 s response delay, participants judged the real face in a matching task, followed by a WM test for the cartoon faces. Participants were divided into two groups... (More)
Serial dependence (SD) occurs when current perceptions are biased towards sensory input from the recent past. The present study investigated whether interindividual differences in working memory (WM) could predict SD in facial identity perception. Electroencephalography (EEG) was used to capture early perceptual face processing (N170) and WM processing (frontal negative slow waves) in a combined WM/SD task. Participants (n = 25) retained one or three cartoon faces (low/high WM load) while viewing a real facial image preceded by the presentation of a task-irrelevant face. After a 6 s response delay, participants judged the real face in a matching task, followed by a WM test for the cartoon faces. Participants were divided into two groups according to their WM capacity. For participants with low WM capacity, SD occurred in both low and high WM load conditions, while participants with high WM capacity showed SD only in the high load condition. The EEG results for the task-irrelevant face showed significant differences between the high and low load conditions at both perceptual and WM processing stages. In addition, time-frequency analysis revealed significant modulations in alpha/beta frequencies during the response delay. Crucially, the EEG differences were only observed for participants with high WM capacity, suggesting that it is possible to actively prevent task-irrelevant sensory input from being integrated with goal-relevant percepts when WM is not depleted. Overall, our results show that WM control processes related to inhibition of task-irrelevant information and to selective encoding and maintenance of task-relevant information can predict SD face effects. (Less)
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author
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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to conference
publication status
published
subject
pages
106 - 106
conference name
Cognitive Neuroscience Society’s Annual Meeting
conference location
Toronto, Canada
conference dates
2024-04-13 - 2024-04-16
project
Rethinking perceptual processes for the 21st century
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
99e5a5e7-7c41-448a-ba38-07193c45919d
alternative location
https://www.cogneurosociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/CNS_2024_Abstract_Book.pdf
date added to LUP
2025-09-11 13:39:46
date last changed
2025-09-11 14:54:41
@misc{99e5a5e7-7c41-448a-ba38-07193c45919d,
  abstract     = {{Serial dependence (SD) occurs when current perceptions are biased towards sensory input from the recent past. The present study investigated whether interindividual differences in working memory (WM) could predict SD in facial identity perception. Electroencephalography (EEG) was used to capture early perceptual face processing (N170) and WM processing (frontal negative slow waves) in a combined WM/SD task. Participants (n = 25) retained one or three cartoon faces (low/high WM load) while viewing a real facial image preceded by the presentation of a task-irrelevant face. After a 6 s response delay, participants judged the real face in a matching task, followed by a WM test for the cartoon faces. Participants were divided into two groups according to their WM capacity. For participants with low WM capacity, SD occurred in both low and high WM load conditions, while participants with high WM capacity showed SD only in the high load condition. The EEG results for the task-irrelevant face showed significant differences between the high and low load conditions at both perceptual and WM processing stages. In addition, time-frequency analysis revealed significant modulations in alpha/beta frequencies during the response delay. Crucially, the EEG differences were only observed for participants with high WM capacity, suggesting that it is possible to actively prevent task-irrelevant sensory input from being integrated with goal-relevant percepts when WM is not depleted. Overall, our results show that WM control processes related to inhibition of task-irrelevant information and to selective encoding and maintenance of task-relevant information can predict SD face effects.}},
  author       = {{Lidström, Anette and Bramao, Ines}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{106--106}},
  title        = {{Working memory capacity predicts serial dependence for facial identity}},
  url          = {{https://www.cogneurosociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/CNS_2024_Abstract_Book.pdf}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}