Efficient Allocation of Working Memory Resource for Utility Maximization in Humans and Recurrent Neural Networks

Working memory (WM) supports the temporary retention of task-relevant information. It is limited in capacity and inherently noisy. The ability to flexibly allocate WM resource is a hallmark of adaptive behavior. While it is well established that WM resource can be prioritized via selective attention, whether they can be allocated based on reward incentive alone remains under debate--raising open questions about whether humans can efficiently allocate WM resource based on utility. To address this, we conducted behavioral experiments using orientations as stimuli.