Active processing in visuo-spatial working memory

The findings of recent research have motivated a theoretical distinction be tween active and passive components of visuo-spatial working memory, but in vestigation of the active component has been inhibited by the absence of ap propriate experimental tasks. We propose a new experimental procedure invol ving the mental reconstruction of pictures of objects from fragmented piece s. The results allow one to identify variables affecting the active elabora tion of visuo-spatial material, and they support a capacity theory of activ e visuo-spatial processing. The roles of mental rotation, visual complexity , and processing load are evaluated. Furthermore, this procedure is propose d as a tool to investigate the architecture of visuo-spatial working memory and the relationship between peripheral modality-specific and central amod al processes.