Editing Iconic memory (section)

== Role ==
Iconic memory provides a smooth stream of visual information to the brain which can be extracted over an extended period of time by VSTM for consolidation into more stable forms. One of iconic memory's key roles is involved with change detection of our visual environment which assists in the perception of motion.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Urakawa|first=Tomokazu|author2=Koji Inui|author3=Koya Yamashiro|author4=Emi Tanaka|author5=Ryusuke Kakigi|year=2010|title=Cortical dynamics of visual change detection based on sensory memory|journal=NeuroImage|volume=52|issue=1|pages=302–308|doi=10.1016/j.neuroimage.2010.03.071|pmid=20362678|s2cid=6785434 }}<!--| access-date = 2011-03-11 --></ref>

===Temporal integration===
Iconic memory enables integrating visual information along a continuous stream of images, for example when watching a movie. In the primary visual cortex new stimuli do not erase information about previous stimuli. Instead the responses to the most recent stimulus contain about equal amounts of information about both this and the preceding stimulus.<ref name = "Nikolic"/> This one-back memory may be the main substrate for both the integration processes in iconic memory and masking effects. The particular outcome depends on whether the two subsequent component images (i.e., the "icons") are meaningful only when isolated (masking) or only when superimposed (integration).

===Change blindness===
The brief representation in iconic memory is thought to play a key role in the ability to detect change in a visual scene. The phenomenon of [[change blindness]] has provided insight into the nature of the iconic memory store and its role in vision. Change blindness refers to an inability to detect differences in two successive scenes separated by a very brief blank interval, or [[interstimulus interval]] (ISI).<ref name="Becker">{{cite journal|last=Becker|first=M.|author2=H. Pashler|author3=S. Anstis|year=2000|title=The role of iconic memory in change-detection tasks|journal=Perception|volume=29|issue=3|pages=273–286|doi=10.1068/p3035|pmid=10889938|s2cid=3041715 }}<!--| access-date = 2011-03-11 --></ref> As such change blindness can be defined as being a slight lapse in iconic memory.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Iconic memory requires attention|first1=Marjan|last1=Persuh|first2=Boris|last2=Genzer|first3=Robert|last3=Melara|date=20 April 2018|journal=Frontiers in Human Neuroscience|volume=6|pages=126|doi=10.3389/fnhum.2012.00126|pmid = 22586389|pmc=3345872|doi-access=free }}</ref> When scenes are presented without an ISI, the change is easily detectable.  It is thought that the detailed memory store of the scene in iconic memory is erased by each ISI, which renders the memory inaccessible. This reduces the ability to make comparisons between successive scenes.<ref name = "Becker"/>

=== Saccadic eye movement ===
It has been suggested that iconic memory plays a role in providing continuity of experience during [[saccade|saccadic eye movements]].<ref>{{cite journal|last=Jonides|first=J.|author2=D. Irwin|author3=S. Yantis|year=1982|title=Integrating visual information from successive fixations|journal=Science|volume=215|issue=4529|pages=192–194|doi=10.1126/science.7053571|pmid=7053571|bibcode=1982Sci...215..192J }}<!--| access-date = 2011-03-11 --></ref> These rapid eye movements occur in approximately 30 ms and each fixation lasts for approximately 300 ms.  Research suggests however, that memory for information between saccades is largely dependent on VSTM and not iconic memory. Instead of contributing to trans-saccadic memory, information stored in iconic memory is thought to actually be erased during saccades.  A similar phenomenon occurs during eye-blinks whereby both automatic and intentional blinking disrupts the information stored in iconic memory.<ref name="Thomas">{{cite journal|last=Thomas|first=Laura|author2=David Irwin|year=2006|title=Voluntary eyeblinks disrupt iconic memory|journal=Perception & Psychophysics|volume=68|issue=3|pages=475–488|doi=10.3758/BF03193691|pmid=16900838 |doi-access=free}}<!--| access-date = 2011-03-11 --></ref>