the-combination-transcranial-alternating-current-stimulation

The Combination of Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation and Electroencephalogram

Neural oscillations are integral to various cognitive processes, including working memory, attention, and perception. Transcranial alternating current ...

Southwest University

Although similarity could improve visual working memory (VWM) performance, it remains unclear how the spatial configuration of visual information influences the similarity effect in VWM. We explored this question by manipulating the orderliness of spatial configuration (ordered vs. scrambled) in the simultaneous (Experiment 1) and sequential (Experiment 2) change detection tasks. The results showed that similarity improved VWM performance when memory items were presented simultaneously and sequentially. For the simultaneous memory array containing similar and dissimilar items, the performance of the ordered spatial configuration was better than that of the scrambled spatial configuration when probing dissimilar items, while no such difference was found when probing similar items. Further, the similarity effect value in the scrambled spatial configuration was higher than that in the ordered spatial configuration. For the sequential memory array containing similar and dissimilar items, spatial configuration did not affect the similarity effect in VWM. Taken together, these findings suggest that spatial configuration could modulate the similarity effect when memory items are presented simultaneously, in which the ordered spatial configuration protects representations of dissimilar items and reduces the similarity effect in VWM. Our study provides additional evidence for the role of spatial configuration in the similarity effect in VWM, and supports the hierarchical model.

Ordered spatial configuration protects representations of dissimilar items and reduces the similarity effect in visual working memory.

Repeated nicotine exposure can lead to cognitive changes, including working memory. However, we have a limited understanding of such changes. To address this gap, 48 smokers participated in smoking-specific N-back tasks involving smoking and neutral cues under different working memory loads (1-back and 2-back), while EEG data were recorded. By employing drift-diffusion model and EEG analysis, we examined how cue types and working memory loads modulate behavioral performance and identified the underlying cognitive processes and neural correlates. The results showed decreased accuracy across working memory loads and slower reaction times specifically in the low working memory load condition when exposed to smoking cues. Drift-diffusion model analysis suggested that these effects may stem from reduced drift rate and a lower decision threshold. These behavioral differences between cue types were mirrored in the neural activity, with smoking cues eliciting smaller P300 amplitudes, decreased alpha and beta power under both working memory loads, and increased positive slow wave predominantly at low working memory load. Furthermore, negative correlations were observed between nicotine craving and behavior performance (i.e., accuracy), drift-diffusion model parameters (i.e., drift rate and decision threshold) and EEG data (i.e., alpha and beta power). These findings enhance our understanding of how smoking cues affect cognitive processing and the neural mechanisms of working memory in smokers.

Article	Year
Ordered spatial configuration protects representations of dissimilar items and reduces the similarity effect in visual working memory. Psychological research\| PubMed ID: 39088011	2024
The Impact of Smoking Cues on Working Memory: Evidence from the Drift-Diffusion Model and EEG. Addictive behaviors\| PubMed ID: 40651070	2025

Jiayue Zou

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