Sensory input matching visual working memory drives internal prioritization

Adaptive behavior necessitates the prioritization of the most relevant information in the environment (external) and in memory (internal). Internal prioritization and sensory processing are thought to be tightly coupled since visual working memory (VWM) content drives external attention. Here we addressed if sensory input matching VWM content in turn guides internal prioritization. Participants memorized three orientations. Crucially some, but not all, objects held in VWM were made available again. These reappearing objects were task-irrelevant and could be forgotten. Experiment 1 showed that the reappearance of all but one object held in VWM (opposed to one or no reappearing objects) benefited accuracy and speed as much as a traditional spatial retrocue. This shows that memory-matching, yet task-irrelevant sensory information facilitates internal prioritization. But which aspects of the sensory content drive this effect? Experiment 2 demonstrated that prioritization was facilitated most if reappearing objects matched VWM content in terms of both location and orientation – even though these objects were now task-irrelevant. Internally held representations prepare sensory processing, and conversely, sensory processing guides the prioritization of relevant internal representations. We therefore propose that predictive and feedback signals jointly optimize internal prioritization to subserve adaptive behavior.