Color Binding in Visuo-Spatial Working Memory

Visuo-spatial working memory (VSWM) is characterized by a limited storage capacity. An important issue of vision and memory research is whether VSWM stores integrated objects or features. Following Luck and Vogel' (1997), we investigated VSWM for color-color conjunctions. We used a single probe at test to minimize configuration-related effects on performance, and two baselines with storage of single-feature (color) objects. We found that performance with color conjunctions (binding) was even lower than in the condition in which the same amount of features was presented at different object locations. Neural network simulations show that our experimental evidence can be transparently explained in terms of local processing limitations, co-existing with global processing and VSWM storage limitations. Behavioral predictions are put forth.