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The representation of nonstructural information in visual memory: Evidence from image combination.

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The representation of nonstructural information in visual memory: Evidence from image combination. / Walker, Peter; Hitch, Graham J.; Dewhurst, Stephen A. et al.
In: Memory and Cognition, Vol. 25, No. 4, 1997, p. 484-491.

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Walker, P, Hitch, GJ, Dewhurst, SA, Whiteley, HE & Brandimonte, MA 1997, 'The representation of nonstructural information in visual memory: Evidence from image combination.', Memory and Cognition, vol. 25, no. 4, pp. 484-491.

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@article{e18d6c47d6c440b38556fd31b3282cfd,
title = "The representation of nonstructural information in visual memory: Evidence from image combination.",
abstract = "Two experiments investigated the differential representation of the figure and ground of a picture in visual short-term and long-term memory. It is known (Hitch, Brandimonte, & Walker, 1995) that subjects find it more difficult to combine mental images of two separately presented pictures in order to identify a novel form when the two pictures are incongruent in color (i.e., when a black-on-white line drawing has to be combined with a white-on-black drawing). In the present experiments, the figures were depicted in solid form to allow color congruity to be varied independently for figure and ground. Results showed a clear impairment in image combination when the to-be-combined figures were incongruent in color (black-on-gray and white-on-gray) but not when their grounds were incongruently colored (gray-on-black and gray-on-white). In this way, image combination was seen to be supported by a representation of the object depicted in the picture rather than by a literal representation of the picture itself (i.e., a pictorial code). In line with previous findings, the same representation was seen to support image combination based on short-term memory (Experiment 1) and long-term memory (Experiment 2), provided that in the latter case verbal recoding was precluded. When verbal recoding was allowed, image combination based on long-term memory was insensitive to color congruity, implying the involvement of a more abstract structural representation.",
author = "Peter Walker and Hitch, {Graham J.} and Dewhurst, {Stephen A.} and Whiteley, {Helen E.} and Brandimonte, {Maria A.}",
year = "1997",
language = "English",
volume = "25",
pages = "484--491",
journal = "Memory and Cognition",
issn = "0090-502X",
publisher = "Springer New York",
number = "4",

}

RIS

TY - JOUR

T1 - The representation of nonstructural information in visual memory: Evidence from image combination.

AU - Walker, Peter

AU - Hitch, Graham J.

AU - Dewhurst, Stephen A.

AU - Whiteley, Helen E.

AU - Brandimonte, Maria A.

PY - 1997

Y1 - 1997

N2 - Two experiments investigated the differential representation of the figure and ground of a picture in visual short-term and long-term memory. It is known (Hitch, Brandimonte, & Walker, 1995) that subjects find it more difficult to combine mental images of two separately presented pictures in order to identify a novel form when the two pictures are incongruent in color (i.e., when a black-on-white line drawing has to be combined with a white-on-black drawing). In the present experiments, the figures were depicted in solid form to allow color congruity to be varied independently for figure and ground. Results showed a clear impairment in image combination when the to-be-combined figures were incongruent in color (black-on-gray and white-on-gray) but not when their grounds were incongruently colored (gray-on-black and gray-on-white). In this way, image combination was seen to be supported by a representation of the object depicted in the picture rather than by a literal representation of the picture itself (i.e., a pictorial code). In line with previous findings, the same representation was seen to support image combination based on short-term memory (Experiment 1) and long-term memory (Experiment 2), provided that in the latter case verbal recoding was precluded. When verbal recoding was allowed, image combination based on long-term memory was insensitive to color congruity, implying the involvement of a more abstract structural representation.

AB - Two experiments investigated the differential representation of the figure and ground of a picture in visual short-term and long-term memory. It is known (Hitch, Brandimonte, & Walker, 1995) that subjects find it more difficult to combine mental images of two separately presented pictures in order to identify a novel form when the two pictures are incongruent in color (i.e., when a black-on-white line drawing has to be combined with a white-on-black drawing). In the present experiments, the figures were depicted in solid form to allow color congruity to be varied independently for figure and ground. Results showed a clear impairment in image combination when the to-be-combined figures were incongruent in color (black-on-gray and white-on-gray) but not when their grounds were incongruently colored (gray-on-black and gray-on-white). In this way, image combination was seen to be supported by a representation of the object depicted in the picture rather than by a literal representation of the picture itself (i.e., a pictorial code). In line with previous findings, the same representation was seen to support image combination based on short-term memory (Experiment 1) and long-term memory (Experiment 2), provided that in the latter case verbal recoding was precluded. When verbal recoding was allowed, image combination based on long-term memory was insensitive to color congruity, implying the involvement of a more abstract structural representation.

M3 - Journal article

VL - 25

SP - 484

EP - 491

JO - Memory and Cognition

JF - Memory and Cognition

SN - 0090-502X

IS - 4

ER -