Neuro Forum Feature-based and object-based attention orientation during short-term memory maintenance

Ku Y. Feature-based and object-based attention orientation during short-term memory maintenance. J Neurophysiol 114: 3036–3038, 2015. First published June 18, 2015; doi:10.1152/jn.00342.2015.— Top-down attention biases the short-term memory (STM) processing at multiple stages. Orienting attention during the maintenance period of STM by a retrospective cue (retro-cue) strengthens the representation of the cued item and improves the subsequent STM performance. In a recent article, Backer et al. (Backer KC, Binns MA, Alain C. J Neurosci 35: 1307–1318, 2015) extended these findings from the visual to the auditory domain and combined electroencephalography to dissociate neural mechanisms underlying feature-based and objectbased attention orientation. Both event-related potentials and neural oscillations explained the behavioral benefits of retro-cues and favored the theory that feature-based and object-based attention orientation were independent.