Perceptual boost of stimulus memorability on visual short-term memory formation

Human observers naturally remember certain stimuli such as face/scene images with overwhelming consistency. This phenomenon has been attributed to stimulus memorability, which may reflect an ensemble perceptual attribute that enhances the long-term retention of visual information. However, how this property contributes memory formation is yet fully understood. Here, we test hypothesis memorability adds a constant boost short-term (STM). Given probabilistic nature perception, predicts memorable information should increase likelihood item being encoded into STM within time when fragile sensory transferred durable STM. To prediction, asked participants three unfamiliar faces level (high vs. low) and tested their after short delay using change detection paradigm. These were drawn from large-scale crowdsourced dataset verified in separate sample region where study was conducted. While items uniformly presented for 150 ms memory-and-test onset asynchrony (SOA) fixed at 1,500 ms, manipulated allowed further encode these by inserting 200-ms consolidation mask different memory-and-mask SOAs (150 388 617 ms). We found reliably remembered more (vs. forgettable) across all masking conditions similar effect sizes. findings suggest facilitation emerges early (<=150 ms), temporally impact familiarity on later stage demonstrated some previous studies (>330 Future research needs distinguish understand formed naturalistic vision.