Essential considerations for exploring visual working memory storage in the human brain

Abstract

Visual working memory (VWM) relies on a distributed cortical network. Yet, the extent to which individual cortical areas, like early visual cortex and intraparietal sulcus, are essential to VWM storage remains debated. Here, we reanalyze key datasets from two independent labs to address three topics at the forefront of current-day VWM research: Resiliency of mnemonic representations against visual distraction, the role of attentional priority in memory, and brain–behavior relationships. By utilizing different analysis approaches, each designed to test different aspects of mnemonic coding, our results provide a comprehensive perspective on the role of early visual and intraparietal areas. We emphasize the importance of analysis choices, and how a thorough understanding of the principles they test is crucial for unraveling the distributed mechanisms of VWM. Consequently, we caution against the idea of a singular essential storage area, which could limit our comprehension of the VWM system.