Please join us for a colloquium in Moore Filene Auditorium on Thursday, January 22, 2026, starting at 1:05 p.m., given by Viola S. Störmer , Associate Professor in Psychological and Brain Sciences at Dartmouth College. 

Title:  Beyond Sensory Limits: How Knowledge shapes Visual Attention and Working Memory

Abstract:  Selective attention and working memory are fundamental functions of higher-level cognition, allowing us to prioritize and maintain information relevant for behavior. In this talk, I will present recent work examining how statistical regularities in the environment and pre-existing conceptual knowledge shape attentional selection. I will further show that visual working memory, often described as a purely sensory system with fixed limits, has higher capacity for real-world objects relative to non-meaningful features and shapes. Collectively, these findings suggest that understanding the limits and mechanisms of visual cognition requires careful consideration of perceptual representations and their interaction with experience and semantic knowledge.

Coffee, tea, and cider donuts will be available a few minutes before and after the talk in the foyer space outside of Moore Filene Auditorium.