A note on the identification of change detection task models to measure storage capacity and attention in visual working memory

Leah M. Feuerstahler; Steven J. Luck; Angus MacDonald; Niels G. Waller

doi:10.3758/s13428-018-1082-z

A note on the identification of change detection task models to measure storage capacity and attention in visual working memory

Leah M. Feuerstahler, Steven J. Luck, Angus MacDonald, Niels G. Waller

Psychology (Twin Cities)

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

6 Scopus citations

Abstract

The change detection task is a common method for assessing the storage capacity of working memory, but estimates of memory capacity from this task can be distorted by lapses of attention. When combined with appropriate mathematical models, some versions of the change detection task make it possible to separately estimate working memory and the probability of attentional lapses. In principle, these models should allow researchers to isolate the effects of experimental manipulations, group differences, and individual differences on working memory capacity and on the rate of attentional lapses. However, the present research found that two variants of a widely accepted model of the change detection task are not mathematically identified.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	1360-1370
Number of pages	11
Journal	Behavior Research Methods
Volume	51
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3758/s13428-018-1082-z
State	Published - Jun 15 2019

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
Acknowledgments This work was supported through the National

Funding Information:
This work was supported through the National Institute of Mental Health grants R01MH084861 (LF, AM, NW) and R01MH065034 (SL) and R01MH076226 (SL). Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Niels G. Waller, Department of Psychology, N218 Elliott Hall, University of Minnesota, 75 East River Road, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55455.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2018, Psychonomic Society, Inc.

Keywords

Attention
Memory
Model identification

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abstract = "The change detection task is a common method for assessing the storage capacity of working memory, but estimates of memory capacity from this task can be distorted by lapses of attention. When combined with appropriate mathematical models, some versions of the change detection task make it possible to separately estimate working memory and the probability of attentional lapses. In principle, these models should allow researchers to isolate the effects of experimental manipulations, group differences, and individual differences on working memory capacity and on the rate of attentional lapses. However, the present research found that two variants of a widely accepted model of the change detection task are not mathematically identified.",

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AU - Luck, Steven J.

AU - MacDonald, Angus

AU - Waller, Niels G.

N1 - Funding Information: Acknowledgments This work was supported through the National Funding Information: This work was supported through the National Institute of Mental Health grants R01MH084861 (LF, AM, NW) and R01MH065034 (SL) and R01MH076226 (SL). Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Niels G. Waller, Department of Psychology, N218 Elliott Hall, University of Minnesota, 75 East River Road, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55455. Publisher Copyright: © 2018, Psychonomic Society, Inc.

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N2 - The change detection task is a common method for assessing the storage capacity of working memory, but estimates of memory capacity from this task can be distorted by lapses of attention. When combined with appropriate mathematical models, some versions of the change detection task make it possible to separately estimate working memory and the probability of attentional lapses. In principle, these models should allow researchers to isolate the effects of experimental manipulations, group differences, and individual differences on working memory capacity and on the rate of attentional lapses. However, the present research found that two variants of a widely accepted model of the change detection task are not mathematically identified.

AB - The change detection task is a common method for assessing the storage capacity of working memory, but estimates of memory capacity from this task can be distorted by lapses of attention. When combined with appropriate mathematical models, some versions of the change detection task make it possible to separately estimate working memory and the probability of attentional lapses. In principle, these models should allow researchers to isolate the effects of experimental manipulations, group differences, and individual differences on working memory capacity and on the rate of attentional lapses. However, the present research found that two variants of a widely accepted model of the change detection task are not mathematically identified.

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KW - Memory

KW - Model identification

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A note on the identification of change detection task models to measure storage capacity and attention in visual working memory

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