Abstract
Recent studies suggest a tighter relationship between visual working memory (VWM), attention, and action than traditionally assumed. In two experiments using eye tracking, we tested the prediction that attention is biased more by VWM representations that are the direct target of an action plan, than by those that are not. In Experiment 1, on each trial, participants (N=52) memorized a geometric shape. Their memory of the shape was subsequently tested in a probe display. In the action condition, participants had to grip the probe when it matched the memorized shape, while, in the control condition, they had to grip another visual stimulus. Crucially, during the memory delay, a visual search task was presented. Participant had to rapidly saccade towards a target letter. The same shape as the one held in memory was always present in the search display, and either contained the target (valid trials) or contained a distractor (invalid trials). Analysis of saccade latencies revealed enhanced attentional capture towards memory-matches in the action condition, as reflected by a significant interaction between validity and condition. This suggests that intending to act on an object in VWM strengthens its representation. In Experiment 2, we investigated to what extent the effect relies on how well-defined the action plan is. In one condition, participants (N=38) knew precisely in advance which of three actions they had to perform on the memory probe, while in the other condition they knew that an action had to be performed, but not which one until the memory test. We again observed an interaction between validity and condition, reflecting stronger interference from VWM representations for which the action was defined in advance. We conclude that action intention strengthens VWM representations.