Storage and processing in visuo-spatial working memory

Visuo-spatial working memory has been used to account for performance in a wide range of visuo-spatial tasks, including perceptuo-motor tracking and i mmediate recall of visually presented patterns. However a developing body o f evidence points to a fractionation of the concept into visuo-spatial proc essing that calls on general purpose executive resources, and a visual 'cac he' memory for temporary storage in on-line cognition. Two related experime nts are described which address whether processing and temporary memory dra w on overlapping or on distinct resources in working memory. Experiment 1 d emonstrates that participants can accurately respond to a series of targets appearing in random locations whether or not they have the additional load of retaining and subsequently recalling the appearance of each target. Mem ory for target appearance likewise is largely unaffected by the additional load of requiring a response to each target. Experiment 2 demonstrates simi lar findings when verbal labeling of the patterns is inhibited through the use of articulatory suppression. Results are interpreted as consistent with a multiple component working memory system.