MEMORY FOR VISUAL-MOTION

Observers briefly viewed random dots moving in a given direction and s ubsequently recalled that direction. When required to remember a singl e direction, observers performed accurately for memory intervals of up to 8 s; this high-fidelity memory for motion was maintained when obse rvers executed a vigilance task during the memory interval. When obser vers tried to remember multiple directions of motion, performance dete riorated with increasing number of directions. Still, memory for multi ple directions was unchanged over delays of up to 30 s. In a forced-ch oice experiment, observers viewed 2 successive animation sequences sep arated by a memory interval; for both sequences, dots moved in any dir ection within a limited bandwidth. Observers accurately judged which a nimation sequence was more coherent, even with memory intervals of 30 s. The findings are considered within the context of cognitive bias an d memory for other aspects of perception.