Disentangling working memory from multiple‐object tracking

Evidence from dual‐task interferences

Bibliographic Data

ID21391750
AuthorsHui Li (0000-0001-9355-1116, Beijing Key Laboratory of Applied Experimental Psychology, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Psychology Education, Faculty of Psychology Beijing Normal University Beijing China), Luming Hu (0000-0003-3604-4905, Department of Psychology School of Arts and Sciences Beijing Normal University at Zhuhai Zhuhai China), Liuqing Wei (0000-0001-6488-7454, Department of Psychology Institute of Education, Hubei University Wuhan China), Hong He (0000-0003-0754-8557, Institute of Brain and Psychological Sciences Sichuan Normal University Chengdu China), Xuemin Zhang (0000-0002-5357-6666, Beijing Key Laboratory of Applied Experimental Psychology, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Psychology Education, Faculty of Psychology Beijing Normal University Beijing China, corresponding author)
Year2023
Volume64
Issue4
Pages437-452
Publication date2023-08-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueScandinavian Journal of Psychology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0036-5564 • E-ISSN: 1467-9450
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/sjop.12901
PMID36892531
OpenAlexW4323653814
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited46

Multiple object tracking (MOT) is generally regarded as a pure attention‐consuming task that draws heavily on attention resources. In the present study, we adopted a cross‐channel visual‐audio dual‐task paradigm, i.e., the MOT task combined with the concurrent auditory N‐back working memory task, to test whether working memory indeed plays a necessary role in the process of multiple tracking, as well as to further identify the specific types of working memory components involved in this process. Experiments 1a and 1b examined the relationship between the MOT task and nonspatial object working memory (OWM) processing by manipulating the tracking load and working memory load, respectively. Results in both experiments indicated that the concurrent nonspatial OWM task did not have a significant effect on the tracking capacity of the MOT task. In contrast, Experiments 2a and 2b examined the relationship between the MOT task and spatial working memory (SWM) processing by a similar approach. Results in both experiments indicated that the concurrent SWM task significantly impaired the tracking capacity of the MOT task, showing a gradual decrease with increasing SWM load. Overall, our study provides empirical evidence that multiple object tracking does involve working memory, primarily related to spatial working memory rather than nonspatial object working memory, which sheds more light on the mechanisms of multiple object tracking

Cognition · Cognitive psychology · Dual (grammatical number) · Object (grammar) · Process (computing) · Short-term memory · Task (project management) · Tracking (education) · Video tracking · Working memory · Artificial Intelligence · Computer Science · Ergonomics and Musculoskeletal Disorders · Human-Automation Interaction and Safety · Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies · Neuroscience · Psychology

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