Assessing the generalizability of visuospatial bootstrapping in working memory performance to different stimulus types: a conceptual replication

Working memory (WM) bootstrapping involves an initiation of the episodic buffer by linking visuospatial and verbal WM with long-term memory. Assessments of visuospatial bootstrapping for WM have assessed a typical keypad (TKP) stimulus presentation in comparison to single display conditions, novel keypad conditions, as well as a full numeric array where numbers are presented on a number line between. Consistently, for WM recall tasks, the TKP condition has scored highest thus supporting visuospatial bootstrapping. The current experiment was designed to examine whether bootstrapping would be observed with a visual display other than the TKP. To assess the generalizability of the visuospatial bootstrapping effect, participants completed a working memory recall tasks across 3 stimulus types (TKP, Clock Face, and Single Digit). The Clock Face has similar properties to the TKP making it a viable option for exploring the visuospatial bootstrapping. Results show the bootstrapping effect generalised to the clock face display.