Iconic memory — an artifact of perceptual reconstruction processes?

SummaryTwo experiments, using a partial vs. whole report procedure to isolate ‘iconic’ from short-term memory loss, are reported. In the first experiment 10 Ss had to judge the difference between two line lengths in a display of three pairs of lines (in rows). Results showed no significant variation in d' with cue delay in spite of a medium overall performance, and in contrast to preliminary partial/whole report experiments. To counter the possibility that the short-term memory load was too small in this experiment, a second experiment was performed with displays containing nine instead of three pairs, i.e., three pairs per row. Equivalence of performance for all conditions was about the same as before. This was true for both hit- and false-alarm rates. The results are interpreted as evidence against the view of ‘iconic’ memory as a high capacity store containing a lot of information. An alternative ‘reconstructive’ theory is put forward to explain both conventional ‘iconic’ loss and our results. According to this account, partial report measures processed material rather than reflecting an ‘iconic’ store of uninterpreted ‘sensory’ events. Some consequences of this model are discussed in the context of some weak effects in our data; and suggestions are put forward for further investigation of visual processing.

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