The modulatory mechanism of spatial distance on the role of internal attention in unattended working memory representations

Visual working memory (VWM) is a cognitive system that temporarily stores visual information, which is essential for higher cognitive functions. Previous research has demonstrated that internal attention can selectively prioritize specific items within VWM using cues, enhancing memory performance for cued items while potentially impacting uncued items based on their proximity to the cued item. The aim of this study was to investigate how spatial distance affects the role of internal attention in maintaining unattended VWM representations. Two experiments were conducted to explore how spatial distance between cued and uncued items modulates this effect. Experiment 1 used a lateralized change detection task with four items to examine how varying distances influence retro-cue effects. The results showed that the uncued item located closer to cued items experienced less memory decline compared to those farther away, supporting the existence of an attentional spatial proximity effect. However, the presence of additional uncued items between cued and uncued items may have confounded these effects. Experiment 2 reduced memory load and systematically manipulated the distance between cued and probed uncued item, finding that proximity to the cued item still protected uncued items from significant memory loss. The results also suggested that the effects of spatial distance are independent of the presence of other uncued items. These findings confirm that internal attention can extend its benefits to nearby uncued items, highlighting a flexible and spatially sensitive mechanism within VWM. The study contributes to a deeper understanding of how attentional processes manage limited memory resources.