Manipulations of attention dissociate fragile visual short-term memory from visual working memory

► Previous research has suggested that visual short-term memory (VSTM) can be divided into three stages: short-lived iconic memory, intermediate-lived fragile VSTM and long-lived visual working memory. ► In this study, we manipulated attention to see whether fragile VSTM and visual working memory differ in their dependency on attention. ► We found that when attention is diverted during presentation of a memory array, visual working memory capacity suffers. ► When attention is diverted during presentation of a memory array, fragile VSTM capacity stays intact. ► It is proposed that the mechanisms underlying the storage of items in memory can be separated from the mechanisms underlying the selection of these items for manipulations or report. The latter is proposed to depend on attention, while the former can occur independent of attention.