Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MSc)

Department

Psychology

Faculty/School

Faculty of Science

First Advisor

William Hockley

Advisor Role

Thesis Committee Member

Second Advisor

Jeffrey A. Jones

Advisor Role

Thesis Committee Member

Third Advisor

Philip Servos

Advisor Role

Thesis Committee Member

Abstract

Vibrotactile working memory has attracted increasing attention in recent years. Substantial research into the neural correlates has been conducted, especially using single-cell paradigms in non-human primates (Romo & Salinas, 2003). The vibrotactile working memory system uses a relatively simple neural code for the representation of stimuli, making it possible to determine when stimulus information is present in the various cortical areas thought to be involved. In humans, vibrotactile working memory displays properties (such as overwriting mechanisms of interference) that make it an ideal system for testing general theories of working memory. In the present study, we demonstrate that vibrotactile working memory has a capacity larger than one item, a critical trait of other working memory tasks. Further, we demonstrate the existence of overwriting and non-overwriting mechanisms of interference, providing strong evidence in support of feature overwriting theories, and also providing a neural mechanism for overwriting.

Convocation Year

2011

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