The Relation between Sustained Attention and Incidental and Intentional Object-Location Memory

Abstract

The role of attention allocation in object-location memory has been widely studied through incidental and intentional encoding conditions. However, the relation between sustained attention and memory encoding processes has scarcely been studied. The present study aimed to investigate performance differences across incidental and intentional encoding conditions using a divided attention paradigm. Furthermore, the study aimed to examine the relation between sustained attention and incidental and intentional object-location memory performance. Based on previous findings, an all women sample was recruited in order to best illuminate the potential effects of interest. Forty-nine women participated in the study and completed the psychomotor vigilance test, as well as object-location memory tests, under both incidental and intentional encoding divided attention conditions. Performance was higher in the incidental encoding condition than in the intentional encoding condition. Furthermore, sustained attention correlated with incidental, but not with intentional memory performance. These findings are discussed in light of the automaticity hypothesis, specifically as it regards the role of attention allocation in encoding object-location memory. Furthermore, the role of sustained attention in incidental memory performance is discussed in light of previous animal and human studies that have examined the brain regions involved in these cognitive processes. We conclude that under conditions of increased mental demand, executive attention is associated with incidental, but not with intentional encoding, thus identifying the exact conditions under which executive attention influence memory performance.

Predicting visual memory across images and within individuals

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Time to reflect on voice parades: The influence of reflection and retention interval duration on earwitness performance

“…In other words, not including a reflection phase may reduce the ecological validity of a voice identification experiment as it results in a less faithful adaptation of the cognitive processes that a witness would utilise in a real crime situation. The methodology we propose encourages memory consolidation via cue utilisation without relying on strategies that occur in real situations, such as intentional encoding which requires awareness of a subsequent retrieval phase (Barel & Tzischinsky, 2020). The methodology of most earwitness studies enforces incidental encoding (for an exception see McDougall et al, 2015).…”

The mindful leader: a review of leadership qualities derived from mindfulness meditation

“…Practicing sustained attention, such as the “body scan meditation,” teaches leaders to maintain their attention on the issues at hand, and to create for themselves undisturbed moments of concentration, with a deep focus on what is to be accomplished, by “tuning out” triggering events that aren’t relevant to accomplishing the given tasks. They build the capacity to deliberately sustain attention by maintaining vigilance over time, despite interruptions and changing conditions ( Barel and Tzischinsky, 2020 ).…”