Working memory loads affect location-based negative priming differently than inhibition of return created by Todd A. Kahan, Victoria A. Oldak, Andrea S. Lichtman

Although some experimental research suggests that location-based negative priming (L-NP; slowed responding to stimuli presented at previously ignored locations) and inhibition of return (IOR; slowed responding to stimuli presented at previously attended locations) are caused by a common underlying mechanism, there is reason to doubt this claim. Evidence for this is briefly reviewed and four experiments are reported where L-NP and IOR are examined under different memory load conditions. We found that L-NP remained intact under a visual-spatial and verbal memory load (Experiments 1, 2, and 4) in accordance with predictions, but a visual-spatial memory load eliminated IOR (Experiment 3). These data support claims that IOR is dependent on visual-spatial memory and are the first to establish that L-NP, unlike identity-based negative priming (I-NP), is not reduced with a memory load. These data bolster claims that at least one of the processes that contribute to L-NP differs from the processes that produce IOR.