Visual Working Memory prioritization modulates Serial Dependence beyond simple attentional effects

Visual Working Memory prioritization modulates Serial Dependence beyond simple attentional effects | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Visual Working Memory prioritization modulates Serial Dependence beyond simple attentional effects Ekaterina Andriushchenko, Andrey Chetverikov, Gianluca Campana This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-6511490/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Under Review Version 1 posted 9 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Background Serial dependence (SD) is a contextual bias in visual processing, where current perception is influenced by past stimuli. This study explores how prioritization in visual working memory (VWM) modulates SD through three experiments. Results Experiment 1 revealed that tasks requiring active memory maintenance (thus prioritization in VWM) amplified SD, with stronger biases observed when participants retained prior stimuli for extended periods. Conversely, Experiments 2 and 3, which employed pre- and post-cueing in a dual-stimuli setup, found no significant differences in SD strength between congruent and incongruent conditions, suggesting that prioritization alone does not influence SD magnitude. Conclusions The results highlight the nuanced interplay between memory maintenance, attention, and perceptual biases, suggesting that SD arises from complex interactions beyond simple attentional mechanisms. This study advances the understanding of SD within perceptual decision-making, underscoring the roles of memory prioritization and maintenance in shaping visual judgments. serial dependence visual working memory visual perception contextual bias Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Under Review Version 1 posted Editorial decision: Revision requested 06 Jun, 2025 Reviews received at journal 26 May, 2025 Reviews received at journal 23 May, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 04 May, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 02 May, 2025 Reviewers invited by journal 01 May, 2025 Editor assigned by journal 24 Apr, 2025 Submission checks completed at journal 24 Apr, 2025 First submitted to journal 23 Apr, 2025 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. 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