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Action Consequences Guide the Use of Visual Working Memory

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Title: Action Consequences Guide the Use of Visual Working Memory
Language: English
Authors: Andre Sahakian (ORCID 0000-0003-0106-1182), Surya Gayet, Chris L. E. Paffen, Stefan Van der Stigchel
Source: Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition. 2025 51(1):4-13.
Availability: American Psychological Association. Journals Department, 750 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20002. Tel: 800-374-2721; Tel: 202-336-5510; Fax: 202-336-5502; e-mail: order@apa.org; Web site: http://www.apa.org
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 10
Publication Date: 2025
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Descriptors: Short Term Memory, Visual Stimuli, Reaction Time, Incentives, Memorization, Foreign Countries, Error Correction, Time Factors (Learning), Information Utilization
Geographic Terms: United Kingdom
DOI: 10.1037/xlm0001326
ISSN: 0278-7393
1939-1285
Abstract: Visual working memory (VWM) is a store for temporary maintenance of visual information. It is often disregarded, though, that information is typically stored to enable actions. Therefore, the context of these actions is of great importance for how VWM is used. Here, we questioned whether the severity of the consequence of an action might affect how well information is memorized, and how cautiously it is utilized. We employed an (online) copying task, in which participants reproduced an example display comprised of six items in a grid, using a pool of items. Crucially, we manipulated the severity of penalties: participants had to wait 5 (high) or 0.5 (low error cost) s after an error. Additionally, we manipulated the accessibility of task-relevant information (a well-studied manipulation in this paradigm): participants had to wait 5 (high) or 0.5 (low sampling cost) s to inspect the example. Our results show that with higher error cost the number of inspections remained comparable, but the number of errors decreased. Furthermore, they show that with higher sampling cost the number of inspections halved, and the number of errors increased. Thus, more severe action consequences increase the reluctance to act on uncertain information in VWM, but do not lead to more attempts to store information in VWM. We conclude that, in contrast to the effect of the accessibility of information, action consequences do not affect how well information is memorized, but affect how cautiously this stored information is utilized.
Abstractor: As Provided
Notes: https://osf.io/e6vpx
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1508287
Database: ERIC
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Andre+Sahakian%22">Andre Sahakian</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0106-1182">0000-0003-0106-1182</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Surya+Gayet%22">Surya Gayet</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Chris+L%2E+E%2E+Paffen%22">Chris L. E. Paffen</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Stefan+Van+der+Stigchel%22">Stefan Van der Stigchel</searchLink>
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  Data: American Psychological Association. Journals Department, 750 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20002. Tel: 800-374-2721; Tel: 202-336-5510; Fax: 202-336-5502; e-mail: order@apa.org; Web site: http://www.apa.org
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  Data: Visual working memory (VWM) is a store for temporary maintenance of visual information. It is often disregarded, though, that information is typically stored to enable actions. Therefore, the context of these actions is of great importance for how VWM is used. Here, we questioned whether the severity of the consequence of an action might affect how well information is memorized, and how cautiously it is utilized. We employed an (online) copying task, in which participants reproduced an example display comprised of six items in a grid, using a pool of items. Crucially, we manipulated the severity of penalties: participants had to wait 5 (high) or 0.5 (low error cost) s after an error. Additionally, we manipulated the accessibility of task-relevant information (a well-studied manipulation in this paradigm): participants had to wait 5 (high) or 0.5 (low sampling cost) s to inspect the example. Our results show that with higher error cost the number of inspections remained comparable, but the number of errors decreased. Furthermore, they show that with higher sampling cost the number of inspections halved, and the number of errors increased. Thus, more severe action consequences increase the reluctance to act on uncertain information in VWM, but do not lead to more attempts to store information in VWM. We conclude that, in contrast to the effect of the accessibility of information, action consequences do not affect how well information is memorized, but affect how cautiously this stored information is utilized.
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  Data: 2026
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      – TitleFull: Action Consequences Guide the Use of Visual Working Memory
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