Joint Attention Enhances Visual Working Memory? The influence of a virtual 'other' on memory for simple items

Join us for our talk this week with Dr Samantha Gregory discussing memory.

Joint attention occurs when two individuals are looking at the same item or event and are aware of this shared attention.

When an experience is shared in this way, research indicates that it is enriched by the presence of the other individual, resulting in a measurable change in how the event is processed. Examples include changes in processing speed with looked at items being responded to faster and changes in appraisal of objects, with looked at items being liked more.

Building on this foundation, Dr Gregory investigates how and when joint attention enhances visual working memory. She will demonstrate effects of eye gaze on visual working memory for different tasks and settings, as well as discussing the future directions her work is taking into virtual reality.