Current perspectives on the mechanisms of visual memory: a literature review

Introduction. Memory is at the core of all intellectual activities; no cognitive function can be performed without its involvement. However, the mechanisms underlying its function remain incompletely understood. Objective: to review publications on current perspectives regarding the mechanisms of human visual memory and identify promising directions for future research in this area. Materials and methods. A literature analysis was conducted based on 58 publications from the last 15 years, sourced from Google Scholar, PubMed, eLibrary, and Crossref Metadata Search. Results. This review highlights the distinctions between longterm and working visual memory based on their functional properties, which rely on different neural substrates. Working memory mechanisms are associated with the activity of the occipital and parietal cortices, while long-term memory is linked to the medial temporal lobe and hippocampus. Traditionally, the organization of long-term visual memory has been modeled as a passive storage system, retaining visual information for extended periods. However, contemporary models of working visual memory describe it as a cognitive mechanism for retrieving necessary information from long-term memory and applying it to functional tasks. Both models emphasize the interaction of hypercolumn neurons, various layers of the visual cortex, and cerebellar structures in evaluating color, spatial localization, and other visual characteristics. Conclusion. Despite extensive and multifaceted research in recent years, many aspects of visual memory remain insufficiently explored. One promising direction for future studies is investigating the functioning of visual memory across different age groups in patients with ophthalmic pathology, including conditions affecting the central visual processing system.

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