Final answer:
Studies support the role of the visual association cortex in short-term memory for visual patterns by demonstrating that TMS applied to the ventral stream disrupts this type of memory, highlighting the ventral stream's role in this process. TMS induces weak electric currents in brain regions to disrupt and study neural circuits.
Step-by-step explanation:
The notion that short-term memory (STM) for a visual stimulus involves continued activation of the appropriate visual association cortex is supported by studies in which TMS applied to the ventral stream disrupted STM for a visual pattern.
This disruption suggests a role for the ventral stream in maintaining the activation necessary for visual STM. In contrast, TMS applied to the ventral stream has not been shown to disrupt STM for a visual location, which may imply that different neural circuits or regions are responsible for different types of visual information storage in the short-term.
Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a non-invasive method used to induce weak electric currents, through electromagnetic induction, in targeted regions of the brain.
This technique can influence neural circuits and is utilized to both research brain functionality and treat various neurological disorders. TMS has been shown to disrupt certain brain functions temporarily, providing insights into the roles of specific brain areas.