A resource-rational theory of set size effects in human visual working memory

Abstract
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Abstract

Encoding precision in visual working memory decreases with the number of encoded items. Here, we propose a normative theory for such set size effects: the brain minimizes a weighted sum of an error-based behavioral cost and a neural encoding cost. We construct a model from this theory and find that it predicts set size effects. Notably, these effects are mediated by probing probability, which aligns with previous empirical findings. The model accounts well for effects of both set size and probing probability on encoding precision in nine delayed-estimation experiments. Moreover, we find support for the prediction that the total amount of invested resource can vary non-monotonically with set size. Finally, we show that it is sometimes optimal to encode only a subset or even none of the relevant items in a task. Our findings raise the possibility that cognitive 'limitations' arise from rational cost minimization rather than from constraints.

Data availability

Data from experiments E1-E7 (Table 1) and Matlab code for model fitting and simulations are available at http://dx.doi.org/10.5061/dryad.nf5dr6c.

The following data sets were generated

1. van den Berg R
2. Ma WJ
(2018) Data from: A resource-rational theory of set size effects in human visual working memory
Available at Dryad Digital Repository under a CC0 Public Domain Dedication.

http://dx.doi.org/10.5061/dryad.nf5dr6c

Article and author information

Author details

Ronald van den Berg

Department of Psychology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden

For correspondence
nronaldvdberg@gmail.com

Competing interests
The authors declare that no competing interests exist.

"This ORCID iD identifies the author of this article:" 0000-0001-7353-5960
Wei Ji Ma

Center for Neural Science, New York University, New York, United States

For correspondence
weijima@nyu.edu

Competing interests
The authors declare that no competing interests exist.

"This ORCID iD identifies the author of this article:" 0000-0002-9835-9083

Funding

National Institutes of Health (R01EY020958)

Wei Ji Ma

Vetenskapsrådet (2015-00371)

Ronald van den Berg

The funders had no role in study design, data collection and interpretation, or the decision to submit the work for publication.

Copyright

This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License permitting unrestricted use and redistribution provided that the original author and source are credited.