Abstract
Object-based encoding (OBE) is a critical information processing manner in visual working memory (VWM). It has been demonstrated that in the OBE, together with relevant feature, the irrelevant features are also selected into VWM. However, all previous studies used static objects (e.g., colored shapes) as the stimuli of interest. Our living environment is dynamic, and ample studies have revealed remarkable differences in the processing mechanisms between static and dynamic situations. Consequently, it remains unclear whether the OBE exists in a dynamic situation. Here we explored this issue by constructing a dynamic scenario, which simulated a real moving scene to explore the fate of moving objects’ surface features. To ensure the involvement of VWM, we inserted a tunnel in the scenario. Colored balls moved from one side of the tunnel to the other side. We asked the participants to report whether the direction of moving ball changed after it moving through the tunnel. Importantly, we also manipulated the identity of color: in 50% of trials the surface feature colors were changed into new ones. Both behavioral and EEG data were recorded. We found that the change of surface feature significantly affected the behavioral performance, and elicited a more negative posterior N2. These results suggest that the surface feature of moving objects can be automatically stored in VWM, and the OBE occurs in a dynamic situation.