In the experiments, subjects performed a change-detection task using images of natural objects (Fig. 1b) drawn from 6,800 unique real-world, high-quality objects from Konkle et al. (2010) 54 and Brady et al. (2010) 55. We designed the task to have two different conditions: a memory block and a non-memory vigilance control block. The memory and control blocks were matched on perceptual and attentional demands, which allowed us to better isolate the neural processes related to memory maintenance within each age group, while reducing effects of memory-unspecific and stimulus-driven processes 18, 56.
