Visual Cognitive Neuroscience

• visual working memory
• attention
• conscious perception
• capacity limitations
• fMRI
• EEG/ERPs
• pattern classification

The overall objective of my research is to examine how the brain processes visual information. In particular, I am interested in understanding how it is that neural activity can give rise to conscious perception. To address this question, my research focuses on the limited nature of visual short-term (working) memory and attention, as well as by examining how these capacity-limited processes may support conscious perception.

My research also explores the ways in which visual short-term memory and attention interact in everyday tasks (e.g., visual search). To answer these questions, I use a combination of behavioural methods, neuroimaging (fMRI), and electrophysiological methods (EEG/ERPs).

For a full list of publications see my lab website or Google Scholar Profile.

Salahub, C. Lockhart, H.A., Dube, B., Al-Aidroos, N. & Emrich, S.M. (2019). Electrophysiological correlates of the flexible allocation of visual working memory resources. Scientific Reports, 9, 19428.

Salahub, C. & Emrich, S.M. (2018). ERP evidence for temporal independence of set size and object updating in object substitution masking. Attention, Perception & Psychophysics, 80(2), 387-401.

Emrich, S.M., Lockhart, H.A., & Al-Aidroos, N. (2017). Attention mediates the flexible allocation of visual working memory resources. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception & Performance. 43(7), 1454-1465.

Salahub, C. & Emrich, S.M. (2016). Tuning perception: visual working memory biases the quality of visual awareness. Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, 23(6), 1854-1859.

Emrich, S. M., Riggall, A. C., LaRocque, J. J., & Postle, B. R. (2013). Distributed patterns of activity in sensory cortex reflect the precision of multiple items maintained in visual short-term memory. The Journal of Neuroscience, 33(15), 6516-6523.

Emrich, S. M., & Ferber, S. (2012). Competition increases binding errors in visual working memory. Journal of Vision, 12(4): 12; doi:10.1167/12.4.12