The average representation can have an effect on the representation of particular planar locations and features maintained in working memory. However, less is known about how the average representation influences the storage of depth information in the near term. For a study, researchers utilized mathematical models to fit data from one research on working memory for depth and 12 studies on working memory for planar information to analyze the possible distinct roles of the ensemble average in working memory for planar and depth information. Models assuming a likelihood of reporting the average depth rather than the individual depth captured the pattern of recalled depth well, compressing the recalled front-back distance of the stimulus ensemble compared to the perceived distance.
However, when modeling the recalled planar information, they discovered that when the target was not memorized, participants preferred to report individual nontarget aspects, and the assumption of reporting average information enhanced data fitting only in a few instances. The findings supported the prediction that average depth information may be utilized to replace individual depth information stored in working memory; however, for planar visual features, the substitution of the target with average works only if the average of to-be-remembered features is easily accessible.
Reference:jov.arvojournals.org/article.aspx?articleid=2778806
