When spatial and temporal contiguities help the integration in working memory: “A multimedia learning” approach

Two experiments examined the effects of spatial and temporal contiguities in a working memory binding task that required participants to remember coloured objects. In Experiment 1, a black and white drawing and a corresponding phrase that indicated its colour perceptually were either near or far (spatial study condition), while in Experiment 2, the colour phrase and the black and white drawing were presented either simultaneously or sequentially (temporal study condition). Results showed that the absence of contiguity negatively affected binding performance. Data is discussed in line with theoretical and multimedia models of integrative processes in working memory.

► We examined the role of spatial and temporal contiguities in working memory binding.
► We tested the effect of spatial vs. temporal contiguity principle on multimodal binding.
► We adopted a cognitive binding task to simulate multimedia learning processes.
► We showed that binding can be influenced by these two principles.