Does visual short-term memory store bound features? Jean-Franc Ëois Delvenne and Raymond Bruyer Cognitive Neuroscience Unit, Catholic University of Louvain, Belgium The storage of visual short-term memory VSTM) capacity for objects defined by features from the same dimension colour) and from separate dimensions texture and shape) was assessed in four experiments. In agreement with the framework proposed by Wheeler and Treisman 2002) concerning binding in VSTM, it is shown that features from the same dimension compete for storage capacity while features from separate dimensions are relatively stored in parallel. Furthermore, evidence is offered that integration between object features can be stored in VSTM, just as well as single features, provided that features from that object are encoded as the components of a single unitary object. When features are processed as properties of separate objects, integration of these features is poorly stored in VSTM. Visual short-term memory VSTM) refers to the temporary retention of visual information. Previous studies have shown that VSTM can be distinguished from verbal short-term memory that involves the temporary storage of verbal infor- mation Baddeley, 1986; Baddeley & Hitch, 1974; Phillips, 1974); VTSM can also be distinguished from iconic memory, which stores visual information for about half a second, has a much larger capacity, and is vulnerable to interference by masking Phillips, 1974; Sperling, 1960). VSTM lasts for seconds and, conversely to iconic memory, is independent of retinotopic location Pashler, 1988; Phillips, 1974). Moreover, there is good reason to suppose that VSTM may itself comprise distinct visual and spatial components e.g., Baeyens & Bruyer, 1999; Bruyer & Scailquin, 1998; Hecker & Mapperson, 1997; Logie & Marchetti, 1991; Mecklinger & Mu Èller, 1996; Smith, Jonides, Koeppe, Awh, Schumacher, & Minoshima, 1995; Tresch, Sinnamon, & Seamon, 1993). However, while VSTM is commonly considered as an independent system, its mechanisms are still relatively poorly understood. VISUAL COGNITION, 2004, 11 1), 1±27 Please address all correspondence to: J.-F. Delvenne, UCL, Faculty of Psychology and Education, Cognitive Neuroscience Unit, 10 Place du Cardinal Mercier, B-1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium. E-mail: jean-francois.delvenne@psp.ucl.ac.be The first author is supported by the Belgian National Fund for Scientific Research FNRS). We thank Xavier Seron and Glyn Humphreys for their helpful comments about this paper. # 2004 Psychology Press Ltd http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals/pp/13506285.html DOI:10.1080/13506280344000167