of ISI is reached, after which the function would decrease steadily with increases in ISI
(the dotted line function in the bottom left panel of Figure 1). That is, the two dotted line
functions in the top-left and bottom-left panels of Figure 1 bend because the dual-buffer
model envisages different backward masking effects at short and long mask-delays.
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In the two panels on the right-hand side of Figure 1 are depicted the expectations
of the orthodox view of iconic memory (Coltheart, 1977; Haber & Hershenson, 1980). In
the traditional view, the features extracted from the stimuli decay systematically with
increases in ISI. The systematic decay results in a systematic decline in item information
even though the infra-array location of the probed-for item is properly identified and
recalled (see the solid line function in the top right panel of Figure 1). The reverse is
expected when a mask is presented concurrently with the probe because masking
interrupts further processing (Kahneman, 1968; Turvey, 1973). (See the dotted line
function in the top right panel of Figure 1.)
The select-then-identify overtone of the traditional view implies that an item has
to be properly located (selected) before it can be correctly recalled (see also Treisman &
Gelade, 1980), regardless of the ISI. Moreover, this situation is not affected by masking;
hence, the pair of functions in the bottom right panel of Figure 1 is expected. Data from
the first experiment to be reported will be assessed with reference to both Mewhort et
al.'s (1981) model and the traditional view of iconic memory.
General Method