Spatial statistical learning of task relevance, rather than stimulus prevalence, improves visual working memory recall

Bibliographic Data

ID21640376
AuthorsLuzi Xu (0000-0001-8340-5545, Utrecht University, corresponding author), Andre Sahakian (0000-0003-0106-1182, Utrecht University), Stefan Van Der Stigchel (0000-0002-5918-3521, Utrecht University), Chris L E Paffen (Utrecht University), Surya Gayet (0000-0001-9728-1272, Utrecht University)
Year2026
Volume33
Issue2
Pages80-80
Publication date2026-02-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenuePsychonomic Bulletin & Review (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1069-9384 • E-ISSN: 1531-5320
PublisherSpringer Science and Business Media LLC (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.3758/s13423-025-02781-8
PMID41708568
OpenAlexW7130408534
LanguageEN
References cited30

Our visual environment provides us with more information than we can process. Processing efficiency may be enhanced by leveraging inherent regularities in the environment, such as prioritizing likely target objects over unlikely ones. Although there is evidence that statistical learning improves visual working memory performance, it is unclear whether this improvement occurs through stimulus prevalence (how likely we are to encounter stimuli) or task relevance (how likely we are to use these stimuli). To distinguish between these two hypotheses, we examined whether frequent appearance, or frequent probing of stimuli (or both) improves visual working memory recall. Participants were asked to recall and replicate the orientation of one of two previously presented oriented gratings (Gabors) as precisely as possible. In two experiments, we manipulated (1) stimulus prevalence by presenting Gabors more frequently on one side (either left or right), and (2) task relevance by probing Gabors more frequently on one side (either left or right). We found comparable orientation recall performance for stimuli appearing at probable versus improbable locations, suggesting that regularities in stimulus prevalence do not improve memory recall. Contrastingly, we found better recall for stimuli appearing at locations that were more (versus less) likely to be probed. Specifically, task relevance enhanced recall performance, both by reducing the number of categorical errors and by increasing fine-grained recall precision. These findings demonstrate that statistical learning of task relevance, but not of stimulus prevalence, enhances visual working memory recall performance

Categorical variable · Cognition · Modality effect · Recall · Visual memory · Visual perception · Visual short-term memory · Working memory · Memory Processes and Influences · Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies · Spatial Cognition and Navigation

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