Binding in visual working memory: The role of the episodic buffer
Abstract
The episodic buffer component of working memory is assumed to play a central role in the binding of features into objects, a process that was initially assumed to depend upon executive resources. Here, we review a program of work in which we specifically tested this assumption by studying the effects of a range of attentionally demanding concurrent tasks on the capacity to encode and retain both individual features and bound objects. We found no differential effect of concurrent load, even when the process of binding was made more demanding by separating the shape and color features spatially, temporally or across visual and auditory modalities. Bound features were however more readily disrupted by subsequent stimuli, a process we studied using a suffix paradigm. This suggested a need to assume a feature-based attentional filter followed by an object based storage process. Our results are interpreted within a modified version of the multicomponent working memory model. We also discuss work examining the role of the hippocampus in visual feature binding.
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Baddeley's updated model specifies that automatic binding of language-based information occurs only in the phonological short-term store, not the episodic buffer.
“Baddeley’s model was recently updated to specify that automatic binding of language-based information (e.g., written text + auditory) occurs solely in the phonological short-term store, not the episodic buffer (Baddeley et al., 2011).”
From Are Episodic Buffer Processes Intact in ADHD? Experimental Evidence and Linkage with Hyperactive Behavior (2018) · cites this paper as Baddeley et al., 2011
The single-modality and cross-modality tasks were matched for visual encoding and central executive demands.
“The single-modality (phonological and visuospatial) and cross-modality (episodic buffer) tasks were matched for visual encoding and central executive demands as described above (Baddeley et al., 2011)”
From Are Episodic Buffer Processes Intact in ADHD? Experimental Evidence and Linkage with Hyperactive Behavior (2018) · cites this paper as Baddeley et al., 2011
Executive processing demands were equivalent across tasks.
“Thus, although executive processing demands were equivalent across tasks (Baddeley et al., 2011)”
From Are Episodic Buffer Processes Intact in ADHD? Experimental Evidence and Linkage with Hyperactive Behavior (2018) · cites this paper as Baddeley et al., 2011
The binding of visual and spatial information occurs in the visuospatial short-term store rather than the episodic buffer.
“Although the binding of visual and spatial information occurs in the visuospatial short-term store rather than episodic buffer (Baddeley et al., 2011)”
From Are Episodic Buffer Processes Intact in ADHD? Experimental Evidence and Linkage with Hyperactive Behavior (2018) · cites this paper as Baddeley et al., 2011
Updated conceptualizations point to the existence of a multimodal episodic buffer that may be present in children as young as age 4.
“Updated conceptualizations of human cognition and working memory point to the existence of a multimodal episodic buffer (Baddeley et al., 2011) that may be present in children as young as age 4 (Alloway et al, 2004).”
From Are Episodic Buffer Processes Intact in ADHD? Experimental Evidence and Linkage with Hyperactive Behavior (2018) · cites this paper as Baddeley et al., 2011
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- Authors
- Baddeley, A. D., Allen, R. J., & Hitch, G. J.
- Affiliations
- University of York (GB)
- University of Leeds (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Baddeley, Alan D.
- Venue
- Neuropsychologia
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2011-05
- Volume
- 49
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 1393-1400
- ISSN
- 0028-3932 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2069909557
- Cited by
- 469
- References
- 68
- Citations by year
- 2026: 16 · 2025: 18 · 2024: 35 · 2023: 25 · 2022: 32 · 2021: 39 · 2020: 30 · 2019: 49 · 2018: 26 · 2017: 33 · 2016: 26 · 2015: 33 · 2014: 28 · 2013: 37 · 2012: 19
- FWCI
- 2.61
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Neuropsychologia (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Visual perception and processing mechanisms
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Cognitive Abilities and Testing
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies
- Keywords
- visual working memory, feature binding, episodic buffer, object memory, object storage, hippocampus, cross-modal binding
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Attention, Humans, Memory, Short-Term, Mental Processes, Models, Psychological, Photic Stimulation, Mental Recall, Executive Function
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