Abstract
Visual working memory (VWM) can Update or Reset its representations by relying on a pointer system. This study investigated the adaptability of this pointer system to different contexts. Experiment 1 investigated whether VWM can adapt to a "resetting-mode". We used the contralateral delay activity (CDA) as a marker of updating and resetting. Participants performed a shape change-detection task with polygons. In the One polygon-half condition, a single polygon-half appear for 500ms, disappeared for 50ms and reappeared. In the Add condition, the polygon-half reappeared together with another polygon-half. In the Switch condition, the polygon-half was replaced by an integrated polygon. 70% of the trials were Switch trials, encouraging resetting. The results indicated that VWM used resetting in the Add condition. Experiment 2 used a similar design but 70% of the trials were Add trials, to investigate whether VWM can adapt an "updating-mode". The results indicated that resetting is mandatory once the pointer was lost. Experiment 3 provided evidence that participants who perceived the transition from a polygon-half to an integrated polygon as an addition, performed updating. The results indicated that VWM can adapt to a resetting-mode, but once the pointer is lost, a resetting process is triggered regardless of the context.