Attentional Capture with Rapidly Changing Attentional Control Settings
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| Title: | Attentional Capture with Rapidly Changing Attentional Control Settings |
|---|---|
| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Lien, Mei-Ching, Ruthruff, Eric, Johnston, James C. |
| Source: | Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance. Feb 2010 36(1):1-16. |
| Availability: | American Psychological Association. Journals Department, 750 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20002-4242. Tel: 800-374-2721; Tel: 202-336-5510; Fax: 202-336-5502; e-mail: order@apa.org; Web site: http://www.apa.org/publications |
| Peer Reviewed: | Y |
| Page Count: | 16 |
| Publication Date: | 2010 |
| Document Type: | Journal Articles Reports - Research |
| Education Level: | Higher Education |
| Descriptors: | Visual Stimuli, Attention Control, Spatial Ability, Visual Perception, Memory, Task Analysis, Color, Reaction Time, Undergraduate Students |
| Geographic Terms: | Oregon |
| DOI: | 10.1037/a0015875 |
| ISSN: | 0096-1523 |
| Abstract: | The classic theory of spatial attention hypothesized 2 modes, voluntary and involuntary. Folk, Remington, and Johnston (1992) reported that even involuntary attention capture by stimuli requires a match between stimulus properties and what the observer is looking for. This surprising conclusion has been confirmed by many subsequent studies. In these studies, however, the observer typically looks for the same property throughout an entire session. Real-world behavior, in contrast, often requires frequent shifts in attentional set. The present study examined whether such shifts weaken attentional settings, allowing task-irrelevant objects to capture attention. Surprisingly, fluctuating control settings did not increase vulnerability to capture by salient stimuli (color singletons and abrupt onsets). We conclude that the attention control system is remarkably flexible, able to rapidly and fully adopt new settings and abandon old settings. (Contains 4 tables and 5 figures.) |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Number of References: | 47 |
| Entry Date: | 2010 |
| Accession Number: | EJ877089 |
| Database: | ERIC |
| Abstract: | The classic theory of spatial attention hypothesized 2 modes, voluntary and involuntary. Folk, Remington, and Johnston (1992) reported that even involuntary attention capture by stimuli requires a match between stimulus properties and what the observer is looking for. This surprising conclusion has been confirmed by many subsequent studies. In these studies, however, the observer typically looks for the same property throughout an entire session. Real-world behavior, in contrast, often requires frequent shifts in attentional set. The present study examined whether such shifts weaken attentional settings, allowing task-irrelevant objects to capture attention. Surprisingly, fluctuating control settings did not increase vulnerability to capture by salient stimuli (color singletons and abrupt onsets). We conclude that the attention control system is remarkably flexible, able to rapidly and fully adopt new settings and abandon old settings. (Contains 4 tables and 5 figures.) |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 0096-1523 |
| DOI: | 10.1037/a0015875 |
