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Working memory processes show different degrees of lateralization: Evidence from event-related potentials

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 April 2001

DURK TALSMA ,
ALBERTUS A. WIJERS ,
PETER KLAVER  and
GIJSBERTUS MULDER
DURK TALSMA
Affiliation:
Psychonomics Department, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
ALBERTUS A. WIJERS
Affiliation:
Experimental and Occupational Psychology, University of Groningen, The Netherlands
PETER KLAVER
Affiliation:
Klinik und Poliklinik Für Epileptologie, Bonn, Germany
GIJSBERTUS MULDER
Affiliation:
Experimental and Occupational Psychology, University of Groningen, The Netherlands
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Abstract

This study aimed to identify different processes in working memory, using event-related potentials (ERPs) and response times. Abstract polygons were presented for memorization and subsequent recall in a delayed matching-to-sample paradigm. Two polygons were presented bilaterally for memorization and a cue indicated whether one (and if so, which one of the two) or both polygons had to be memorized. A subsequent test figure was presented unilaterally to the left or right visual field and had to be compared with the memorized figure(s). ERP results suggested that memorization takes place in a visual buffer in contralateral posterior brain areas, whereas identification of the test stimulus as a target appears to be mainly a left hemispheric process. Increased response times were found for nontarget test stimuli as compared to targets, and for target test stimuli that were presented contralaterally with respect to the location of the memorized stimulus. In addition, response times were slower when two figures were memorized than when only one was memorized.

Keywords

Visual working memoryERPsN2pcLateralization
Type
Research Article
Information
Psychophysiology , Volume 38 , Issue 3 , May 2001 , pp. 425 - 439
Copyright
2001 Society for Psychophysiological Research

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