Visual working memory prioritization modulates serial dependence beyond simple attentional effects

Background Serial dependence (SD) is a contextual bias in visual processing, where current perception is influenced by past stimuli. This study explores how prioritization in visual working memory (VWM) modulates SD through three experiments. Results Experiment 1 revealed that tasks requiring active memory maintenance (thus prioritization in VWM) amplified SD, with stronger biases observed when participants retained prior stimuli for extended periods. Conversely, Experiments 2 and 3, which employed pre- and post-cueing in a dual-stimuli setup, found no significant differences in SD strength between congruent and incongruent conditions, suggesting that simple attentional prioritization alone does not influence SD magnitude. Conclusions The results highlight the nuanced interplay between memory maintenance, attention, and perceptual biases, suggesting that SD arises from complex interactions beyond simple attentional mechanisms. This study advances the understanding of SD within perceptual decision-making, underscoring the role of memory maintenance in shaping visual judgments.