How much memory does oculomotor visual search have?
” Perception 31 ECVP Abstract Supplement How much memory does oculomotor visual search have? J S McCarley, A F Kramer, R F Wang, C T Scialfa, A Colcombe, M S Peterson, D E Irwin Evidence indicates that the eyes are guided during serial visual search by memory for items that have already been inspected and dismissed (eg Klein and MacInnes, 1999 Psychological Science 10 346 – 352). Some data suggest that functional memory for search history may be of exceptionally large capacity (Peterson et al, 2001 Psychological Science 12 287 – 292). However, it is possible that these large estimates actually reflect the operation of a limited-capacity buffer buttressed during standard visual search by mnemonic scanning strategies (eg stereotyped scanning, geographic chunking of inspected items). Here, we employed a novel, gaze-contingent visual-search technique to estimate the capacity of true memory for search history, uninflated by mnemonic scanning behaviour. Results indicate a store of roughly 3
