Flexibility in working memory guidance of attention

Abstract

Recent work on the control of attention has focused on automatic influences of working memory representations on the guidance of attention. In this work, I present three studies questioning the auotmaticity of working memory guidance of attention. In the first study, I examine whether goals determine the neural selection of memory-matching perceptual inputs. In the second study, I measure neural signals of the attentional enhancement and suppression of task-irrelevant memory-matches. In the final study, I use a measure of overt attention to determine if goals will create a prioritization for control among items maintained in working memory. Taken together, the results of these three studies suggest that working memory representations are used flexibly by the attentional system, in a manner consistent with the current task goals.