Conclusions
The present study shows that memorizing (grouping-relevant and -irrelevant) features in grouped objects involves multiple, sequential stages of processing that can be traced using lateralized ERPs and alpha activity. When multiple features of an object need to be encoded, the observed benefit of grouping arises already at an early, perceptual level, influencing subsequent processes of attentional selection, with attention conferring an advantage to grouped items during the encoding of the stimulus configurations into VWM and reinforcing the representations of individual features during the retention stage. The results provide support for a hierarchical model of memory representation, with the grouping-relevant feature establishing a superordinate object representation, which in turn enhances the representation of the basic-level grouping-relevant and -irrelevant features.