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Wyche NJ, Edwards M, Goodhew SC. An updating-based working memory load alters the dynamics of eye movements but not their spatial extent during free viewing of natural scenes. Atten Percept Psychophys 2024; 86:503-524. [PMID: 37468789 PMCID: PMC10805812 DOI: 10.3758/s13414-023-02741-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023]
Abstract
The relationship between spatial deployments of attention and working memory load is an important topic of study, with clear implications for real-world tasks such as driving. Previous research has generally shown that attentional breadth broadens under higher load, while exploratory eye-movement behaviour also appears to change with increasing load. However, relatively little research has compared the effects of working memory load on different kinds of spatial deployment, especially in conditions that require updating of the contents of working memory rather than simple retrieval. The present study undertook such a comparison by measuring participants' attentional breadth (via an undirected Navon task) and their exploratory eye-movement behaviour (a free-viewing recall task) under low and high updating working memory loads. While spatial aspects of task performance (attentional breadth, and peripheral extent of image exploration in the free-viewing task) were unaffected by the load manipulation, the exploratory dynamics of the free-viewing task (including fixation durations and scan-path lengths) changed under increasing load. These findings suggest that temporal dynamics, rather than the spatial extent of exploration, are the primary mechanism affected by working memory load during the spatial deployment of attention. Further, individual differences in exploratory behaviour were observed on the free-viewing task: all metrics were highly correlated across working memory load blocks. These findings suggest a need for further investigation of individual differences in eye-movement behaviour; potential factors associated with these individual differences, including working memory capacity and persistence versus flexibility orientations, are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas J Wyche
- Research School of Psychology (Building 39), The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia.
| | - Mark Edwards
- Research School of Psychology (Building 39), The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
| | - Stephanie C Goodhew
- Research School of Psychology (Building 39), The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
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Massironi A, Lazzari G, La Rocca S, Ronconi L, Daini R, Lega C. Transcranial magnetic stimulation on the right dorsal attention network modulates the center-surround profile of the attentional focus. Cereb Cortex 2024; 34:bhae015. [PMID: 38300180 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhae015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Revised: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 01/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Psychophysical observations indicate that the spatial profile of visuospatial attention includes a central enhancement around the attentional focus, encircled by a narrow zone of reduced excitability in the immediate surround. This inhibitory ring optimally amplifies relevant target information, likely stemming from top-down frontoparietal recurrent activity modulating early visual cortex activations. However, the mechanisms through which neural suppression gives rise to the surrounding attenuation and any potential hemispheric specialization remain unclear. We used transcranial magnetic stimulation to evaluate the role of two regions of the dorsal attention network in the center-surround profile: the frontal eye field and the intraparietal sulcus. Participants performed a psychophysical task that mapped the entire spatial attentional profile, while transcranial magnetic stimulation was delivered either to intraparietal sulcus or frontal eye field on the right (Experiment 1) and left (Experiment 2) hemisphere. Results showed that stimulation of right frontal eye field and right intraparietal sulcus significantly changed the center-surround profile, by widening the inhibitory ring around the attentional focus. The stimulation on the left frontal eye field, but not left intraparietal sulcus, induced a general decrease in performance but did not alter the center-surround profile. Results point to a pivotal role of the right dorsal attention network in orchestrating inhibitory spatial mechanisms required to limit interference by surrounding distractors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Massironi
- Department of Psychology, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza dell'Ateneo Nuovo 1, 20126 Milan, Italy
| | - Giorgio Lazzari
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Piazza Botta 6, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Stefania La Rocca
- Department of Psychology, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza dell'Ateneo Nuovo 1, 20126 Milan, Italy
| | - Luca Ronconi
- School of Psychology, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Via Olgettina 58, 20132 Milan, Italy
- Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | - Roberta Daini
- Department of Psychology, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza dell'Ateneo Nuovo 1, 20126 Milan, Italy
| | - Carlotta Lega
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Piazza Botta 6, 27100 Pavia, Italy
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3
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Atkin C, Stacey JE, Roberts KL, Allen HA, Henshaw H, Badham SP. The effect of unisensory and multisensory information on lexical decision and free recall in young and older adults. Sci Rep 2023; 13:16575. [PMID: 37789029 PMCID: PMC10547689 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-41791-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Studies using simple low-level stimuli show that multisensory stimuli lead to greater improvements in processing speed for older adults than young adults. However, there is insufficient evidence to explain how these benefits influence performance for more complex processes such as judgement and memory tasks. This study examined how presenting stimuli in multiple sensory modalities (audio-visual) instead of one (audio-only or visual-only) may help older adults to improve their memory and cognitive processing compared to young adults. Young and older adults completed lexical decision (real word vs. pseudoword judgement) and word recall tasks, either independently, or in combination (dual-task), with and without perceptual noise. Older adults were better able to remember words when encoding independently. In contrast, young adults were better able to remember words when encoding in combination with lexical decisions. Both young and older adults had better word recall in the audio-visual condition compared with the audio-only condition. The findings indicate significant age differences when dealing with multiple tasks during encoding. Crucially, there is no greater multisensory benefit for older adults compared to young adults in more complex processes, rather multisensory stimuli can be useful in enhancing cognitive performance for both young and older adults.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Harriet A Allen
- School of Psychology, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Helen Henshaw
- Hearing Sciences, Mental Health and Clinical Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
- National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre, Nottingham, UK
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4
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Cissne MN, Bellesheim KR, Christ SE. Inhibitory Control in Male and Female Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Dev Neuropsychol 2022; 47:369-383. [PMID: 36537866 DOI: 10.1080/87565641.2022.2154770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The present study examined potential sex- and age-related differences in inhibitory control in adolescents with and without ASD. A computerized flanker visual filtering task and a go/no-go task were used to assess the ability to resist interference from visual distractors (RIVD) and prepotent response inhibition, respectively. Overall, the ASD and non-ASD groups performed comparably on both tasks and no sex-related differences or interactions (group-by-sex) were apparent. Consistent with past research, however, we did observe a significant age-related improvement in RIVD performance among the ASD group (but not the non-ASD group).
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Affiliation(s)
- Mackenzie N Cissne
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA
| | - Katherine R Bellesheim
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Shawn E Christ
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA
- Thompson Center for Autism & Neurodevelopmental Disorders, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA
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5
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Effects of alcohol and task difficulty on visual tracking and inattentional blindness. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2022; 239:2605-2617. [PMID: 35501479 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-022-06148-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2021] [Accepted: 04/17/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE Inattentional blindness (IB) describes the failure to notice salient but unexpected stimuli in one's focal visual field. It typically occurs while performing a demanding task (e.g. tracking and counting basketball passes), which consumes attentional resources. Alcohol intoxication is also known to reduce attentional resources, thereby potentially increasing IB and disrupting task performance. OBJECTIVES To test the extent to which acute alcohol and task difficulty disrupt counting performance and increase the rate of IB across two experimental tasks. METHODS To test the effects of alcohol consumption and task difficulty on IB, we used the Simons and Chabris (Percept 28:1059-1074, 1999) and Simons (2010) "gorilla in our midst" basketball clip in experiment 1 and abstract but analogous stimuli presented in a computerised alternative to that task in experiment 2. RESULTS IB was associated with increased (counting) task difficulty but not alcohol consumption. However, counting accuracy was impaired by both alcohol and increased task difficulty, with the largest detriment being for alcohol participants who noticed the salient but unexpected stimulus. CONCLUSION The absence of alcohol effects on IB in both experiments was unexpected and warrants further investigation in a field vs lab study comparison and in combination with baseline cognitive measures to test for alcohol expectancy and task compensation effects.
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Matias J, Belletier C, Izaute M, Lutz M, Silvert L. The role of perceptual and cognitive load on inattentional blindness: A systematic review and three meta-analyses. Q J Exp Psychol (Hove) 2021; 75:1844-1875. [PMID: 34802311 DOI: 10.1177/17470218211064903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
The inattentional blindness phenomenon refers to situations in which a visible but unexpected stimulus remains consciously unnoticed by observers. This phenomenon is classically explained as the consequence of insufficient attention, because attentional resources are already engaged elsewhere or vary between individuals. However, this attentional-resources view is broad and often imprecise regarding the variety of attentional models, the different pools of resources that can be involved in attentional tasks, and the heterogeneity of the experimental paradigms. Our aim was to investigate whether a classic theoretical model of attention, namely the Load Theory, could account for a large range of empirical findings in this field by distinguishing the role of perceptual and cognitive resources in attentional selection and attentional capture by irrelevant stimuli. As this model has been mostly built on implicit measures of distractor interference, it is unclear whether its predictions also hold when explicit and subjective awareness of an unexpected stimulus is concerned. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analyses of inattentional blindness studies investigating the role of perceptual and/or cognitive resources. The results reveal that, in line with the perceptual account of the Load Theory, inattentional blindness significantly increases with the perceptual load of the task. However, the cognitive account of this theory is not clearly supported by the empirical findings analysed here. Furthermore, the interaction between perceptual and cognitive load on inattentional blindness remains understudied. Theoretical implications for the Load Theory are discussed, notably regarding the difference between attentional capture and subjective awareness paradigms, and further research directions are provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jérémy Matias
- Laboratoire de Psychologie Sociale et Cognitive (LAPSCO), Université Clermont Auvergne-CNRS, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Clément Belletier
- Laboratoire de Psychologie Sociale et Cognitive (LAPSCO), Université Clermont Auvergne-CNRS, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Marie Izaute
- Laboratoire de Psychologie Sociale et Cognitive (LAPSCO), Université Clermont Auvergne-CNRS, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Matthieu Lutz
- Innovation Procédés Industriels, Michelin Recherche et Développement, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Laetitia Silvert
- Laboratoire de Psychologie Sociale et Cognitive (LAPSCO), Université Clermont Auvergne-CNRS, Clermont-Ferrand, France
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Flexible attention system: Appearance time of split attention changes in accordance with the task difficulty level. Atten Percept Psychophys 2021; 84:2127-2140. [PMID: 34820768 DOI: 10.3758/s13414-021-02386-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Although it is often assumed that spatial attention exists in the form of a unitary focus, the split-attention hypothesis proposes that attention can be simultaneously divided into two spatially noncontiguous positions and that the space in between can be ignored. However, whether split attention occurs directly based on the generation of attentional benefit or whether it requires a gradual divide from a unitary focus over time has not been clarified. In the present study, by using two spatial salient cues to direct the attention allocation of participants, we aimed to investigate whether attention requires time to divide from a unitary focus and whether the appearance time of split attention varies when the task difficulty level increases between experiments. The results showed that attention required time to divide from a unitary focus, and the position between the two cued positions was not excluded by attention when the stimulus-onset asynchrony (SOA) was 60 ms. However, as the task difficulty increased between experiments, the appearance time of split attention was earlier. These findings suggest that the appearance time of split attention has a certain flexibility and can be changed according to the task requirement, thus implying that split attention and unitary attention present some common attention mechanisms and that a split or unitary mode can be flexibly selected for an attention system.
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Golob EJ, Nelson JT, Scheuerman J, Venable KB, Mock JR. Auditory spatial attention gradients and cognitive control as a function of vigilance. Psychophysiology 2021; 58:e13903. [PMID: 34342887 DOI: 10.1111/psyp.13903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2020] [Revised: 06/10/2021] [Accepted: 06/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Selection and effort are central to attention, yet it is unclear whether they draw on a common pool of cognitive resources, and if so, whether there are differences for early versus later stages of cognitive processing. This study assessed effort by quantifying the vigilance decrement, and spatial processing at early and later stages as a function of time-on-task. Participants performed an auditory spatial attention task, with occasional "catch" trials requiring no response. Psychophysiological measures included bilateral cerebral blood flow (transcranial Doppler), pupil dilation, and blink rate. The shape of attention gradients using reaction time indexed early processing, and did not significantly vary over time. Later stimulus-response conflict was comparable over time, except for a reduction to left hemispace stimuli. Target and catch trial accuracy decreased with time, with a more abrupt decrease for catch versus target trials. Diffusion decision modeling found progressive decreases in information accumulation rate and non-decision time, and the adoption of more liberal response criteria. Cerebral blood flow increased from baseline and then decreased over time, particularly in the left hemisphere. Blink rate steadily increased over time, while pupil dilation increased only at the beginning and then returned towards baseline. The findings suggest dissociations between resources for selectivity and effort. Measures of high subjective effort and temporal declines in catch trial accuracy and cerebral blood flow velocity suggest a standard vigilance decrement was evident in parallel with preserved selection. Different attentional systems and classes of computations that may account for dissociations between selectivity versus effort are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward J Golob
- Department of Psychology, University of Texas, San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Jeremy T Nelson
- Military Health Institute, University of Texas Health, San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA.,Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
| | - Jaelle Scheuerman
- Department of Computer Science, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Kristen B Venable
- Department of Computer Science, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA.,Florida Institute for Human and Machine Cognition, Pensacola, FL, USA.,Department of Intelligent Systems and Robotics, University of West Florida, Pensacola, FL, USA
| | - Jeffrey R Mock
- Department of Psychology, University of Texas, San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
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9
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Galina SD, Souza JC, Valdez P, Azevedo CVM. Daily light exposure, sleep-wake cycle and attention in adolescents from different urban contexts. Sleep Med 2021; 81:410-417. [PMID: 33826994 DOI: 10.1016/j.sleep.2021.03.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2020] [Revised: 03/05/2021] [Accepted: 03/06/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE to compare daily light exposure, activity-rest rhythm, sleep-wake cycle (SWC) and attention in Brazilian students living in different levels of urbanization. METHODS 115 adolescents (74 girls), aged 14-18 years (mean 15.5 ± 0.7 years), from the first years of high school have participated. The SWC was evaluated by actimetry and a Sleep Diary for 10 days. Besides, the "Health and Sleep" Questionnaire, the Morningness and Eveningness Scale for adolescents, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and the Pediatric Daytime Sleepiness Scale were answered. Attention was assessed by a Continuous Performance Task. RESULTS In the less urbanized region, there were a greater exposure to light during the day accompanied by a higher proportion of morning-types and less occurrence of excessive daytime sleepiness. Otherwise, in the more urbanized region, adolescents showed a trend to sleep less in weekdays and presented more irregularity in sleep duration between weekdays and weekend, with 83 ± 15% of sleep efficiency, 01:04 ± 1:30 h of WASO and 7 ± 6.7 awakenings per night on the weekdays, suggestive of poor sleep quality. Despite of this, they showed better attentional performance: more correct responses (tonic and phasic alertness, and sustained attention) and less omissions (for all components). Regardless of the degree of urbanization, there was partial sleep deprivation, irregular sleep schedules and poor sleep quality in adolescents. CONCLUSIONS The daily light exposure and activity-rest profiles, SWC and attention in adolescents varied according to the degree of urbanization. Besides, the negative impacts of early school starting times leading to sleep deprivation, irregular sleep times and poor sleep quality were observed irrespective of the degree of urbanization, reinforcing that the early school starting time at morning is a strong temporal challenge for teenagers, having negative impacts on cognition and academic performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabinne D Galina
- Laboratório de Cronobiologia e Comportamento, Departamento de Fisiologia e Comportamento, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
| | - Jane C Souza
- Faculdade de Ciências da Saúde do Trairí, FACISA, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
| | - Pablo Valdez
- Laboratorio de Psicofisiología, Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Monterrey, NL, Mexico
| | - Carolina V M Azevedo
- Laboratório de Cronobiologia e Comportamento, Departamento de Fisiologia e Comportamento, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil.
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10
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A critical review of the cognitive and perceptual factors influencing attentional scaling and visual processing. Psychon Bull Rev 2020; 27:405-422. [PMID: 31907853 DOI: 10.3758/s13423-019-01692-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
An important mechanism used to selectively process relevant information in the environment is spatial attention. One fundamental way in which spatial attention is deployed is attentional scaling - the process of focusing attentional resources either narrowly or broadly across the visual field. Although early empirical work suggested that narrowing attention improves all aspects of visual processing, recent studies have demonstrated that narrowing attention can also have no effect or even a detrimental impact when it comes to vision that is thought to be mediated via the magnocellular pathway of the visual system. Here, for the first time, we synthesize empirical evidence measuring the behavioral effects of attentional scaling on tasks gauging the contribution of the major neural pathways of the visual system, with the purpose of determining the potential factors driving these contradictory empirical findings. This analysis revealed that attentional scaling could be best understood by considering the unique methodologies used in the research literature to date. The implications of this analysis for theoretical frameworks of attentional scaling are discussed, and methodological improvements for future research are proposed.
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11
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Visual working-memory capacity load does not modulate distractor processing. Atten Percept Psychophys 2020; 82:3291-3313. [DOI: 10.3758/s13414-020-01991-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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12
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Farina FR, Greene CM. Examining the effects of memory specificity and perceptual load on susceptibility to misleading information. APPLIED COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/acp.3669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Francesca R. Farina
- School of Psychology University College Dublin Dublin Ireland
- Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience Trinity College Dublin Dublin Ireland
| | - Ciara M. Greene
- School of Psychology University College Dublin Dublin Ireland
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13
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Golob EJ, Mock JR. Dynamics of auditory spatial attention gradients. Cognition 2019; 194:104058. [PMID: 31494432 DOI: 10.1016/j.cognition.2019.104058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2015] [Revised: 07/29/2019] [Accepted: 08/23/2019] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Auditory spatial attention faces the conflicting demands of focusing on the current task while also rapidly shifting location to unexpected stimuli. We examined the interplay of sustained focus and intermittent shifts in an auditory spatial attention task. Most trials required a choice response from a standard location in virtual space (L-R: -90°, 0°, +90°), but occasionally the location shifted between 45°-180°. Reaction time curves for angular shifts had a quadratic shape, with slowing for small shifts but faster reaction times for larger shifts. The reaction time curves were maintained at faster stimulus rates and usually scaled to fit the range of stimulus locations. However, focus on the right had an attenuated curve, and did not scale to the range of locations. The findings suggest two mechanisms: a top-down bias centered on standard locations that decreases with distance, and a bottom-up bias that under these conditions increases with distance from the standard location.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward J Golob
- Department of Psychology, Tulane University, United States; Program in Neuroscience, Tulane University, United States.
| | - Jeffrey R Mock
- Department of Psychology, Tulane University, United States
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14
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Abstract
Contrast-based early visual processing has largely been considered to involve autonomous processes that do not need the support of cognitive resources. However, as spatial attention is known to modulate early visual perceptual processing, we explored whether cognitive load could similarly impact contrast-based perception. We used a dual-task paradigm to assess the impact of a concurrent working memory task on the performance of three different early visual tasks. The results from Experiment 1 suggest that cognitive load can modulate early visual processing. No effects of cognitive load were seen in Experiments 2 or 3. Together, the findings provide evidence that under some circumstances cognitive load effects can penetrate the early stages of visual processing and that higher cognitive function and early perceptual processing may not be as independent as was once thought.
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15
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Weger U, Wagemann J, Meyer A. Researching mind wandering from a first-person perspective. APPLIED COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY 2018. [DOI: 10.1002/acp.3406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ulrich Weger
- Department of Psychology and Psychotherapy; Universität Witten/Herdecke; Witten Germany
- Department of Psychology; University of Kent at Canterbury; Canterbury UK
| | - Johannes Wagemann
- Institute for Waldorf Education, Inclusion and Interculturalism; Alanus University of Arts and Social Sciences; Mannheim Germany
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16
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Peng J, Chan SCC, Chau BKH, Yu Q, Chan CCH. Salience of Somatosensory Stimulus Modulating External-to-Internal Orienting Attention. Front Hum Neurosci 2017; 11:428. [PMID: 28970787 PMCID: PMC5609543 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2017.00428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2017] [Accepted: 08/09/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Shifting between one’s external and internal environments involves orienting attention. Studies on differentiating subprocesses associated with external-to-internal orienting attention are limited. This study aimed to reveal the characteristics of the disengagement, shifting and reengagement subprocesses by using somatosensory external stimuli and internally generated images. Study participants were to perceive nociceptive external stimuli (External Low (EL) or External High (EH)) induced by electrical stimulations (50 ms) followed by mentally rehearsing learned subnociceptive images (Internal Low (IL) and Internal High (IH)). Behavioral responses and EEG signals of the participants were recorded. The three significant components elicited were: fronto-central negativity (FCN; 128–180 ms), fronto-central P2 (200–260 ms), and central P3 (320–380 ms), which reflected the three subprocesses, respectively. Differences in the FCN and P2 amplitudes during the orienting to the subnociceptive images revealed only in the EH but not EL stimulus condition that are new findings. The results indicated that modulations of the disengagement and shifting processes only happened if the external nociceptive stimuli were of high salience and the external-to-internal incongruence was large. The reengaging process reflected from the amplitude of P3 correlated significantly with attenuation of the pain intensity felt from the external nociceptive stimuli. These findings suggested that the subprocesses underlying external-to-internal orienting attention serve different roles. Disengagement subprocess tends to be stimulus dependent, which is bottom-up in nature. Shifting and reengagement tend to be top-down subprocesses, which taps on cognitive control. This subprocess may account for the attenuation effects on perceived pain intensity after orienting attention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaxin Peng
- Applied Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic UniversityKowloon, Hong Kong
| | - Sam C C Chan
- Applied Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic UniversityKowloon, Hong Kong
| | - Bolton K H Chau
- Applied Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic UniversityKowloon, Hong Kong
| | - Qiuhua Yu
- Applied Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic UniversityKowloon, Hong Kong
| | - Chetwyn C H Chan
- Applied Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic UniversityKowloon, Hong Kong
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17
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Murphy S, Spence C, Dalton P. Auditory perceptual load: A review. Hear Res 2017; 352:40-48. [DOI: 10.1016/j.heares.2017.02.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2016] [Revised: 12/21/2016] [Accepted: 02/05/2017] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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18
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Goodwin H, Eagleson C, Mathews A, Yiend J, Hirsch C. Automaticity of Attentional Bias to Threat in High and Low Worriers. COGNITIVE THERAPY AND RESEARCH 2016; 41:479-488. [PMID: 28515541 PMCID: PMC5410212 DOI: 10.1007/s10608-016-9818-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Individuals with high levels of worry are more likely than others to attend to possible threats, although the extent of top-down attentional control processes on this bias is unknown. We compared the performance of high (n = 26) and low worriers (n = 26) on a probe discrimination task designed to assess attention to threat cues, under cognitive load or no-load conditions. The expected difference between groups was confirmed, with high worriers being more likely to attend to threat cues than low worriers. Importantly however, there were no significant effects involving condition (cognitive load vs. no-load), nor any significant association with self-perceived attentional control ability. These results suggest that pathological worriers are more likely to attend to threat than are individuals with low levels of worry, regardless of task demands on limited cognitive control resources. This finding is consistent with the dominance of habitual bottom-up influences over top-down control processes in biased attention to threat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huw Goodwin
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Claire Eagleson
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Andrew Mathews
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.,University of California, Davis, Davis, CA USA
| | - Jenny Yiend
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Colette Hirsch
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
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19
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Wick FA, Garaas TW, Pomplun M. Saccadic Adaptation Alters the Attentional Field. Front Hum Neurosci 2016; 10:568. [PMID: 27899887 PMCID: PMC5110509 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2016.00568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2015] [Accepted: 10/25/2016] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
It is currently unknown whether changes to the oculomotor system can induce changes to the distribution of spatial attention around a fixated target. Previous studies have used perceptual performance tasks to show that adaptation of saccadic eye movements affects dynamic properties of visual attention, in particular, attentional shifts to a cued location. In this study, we examined the effects of saccadic adaptation on the static distribution of visual attention around fixation (attentional field). We used the classic double step adaptation procedure and a flanker task to test for differences in the attentional field after forward and backward adaptation. Reaction time (RT) measures revealed that the shape of the attentional field changed significantly after backward adaptation as shown through altered interference from distracters at different eccentricities but not after forward adaptation. This finding reveals that modification of saccadic amplitudes can affect metrics of not only dynamic properties of attention but also its static properties. A major implication is that the neural mechanisms underlying fundamental selection mechanisms and the oculomotor system can reweight each other.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farahnaz A Wick
- Visual Attention Laboratory, Department of Computer Science, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston MA, USA
| | - Tyler W Garaas
- Visual Attention Laboratory, Department of Computer Science, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston MA, USA
| | - Marc Pomplun
- Visual Attention Laboratory, Department of Computer Science, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston MA, USA
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20
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Murphy G, Greene CM. Perceptual Load Affects Eyewitness Accuracy and Susceptibility to Leading Questions. Front Psychol 2016; 7:1322. [PMID: 27625628 PMCID: PMC5003837 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2016.01322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2016] [Accepted: 08/18/2016] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Load Theory (Lavie, 1995, 2005) states that the level of perceptual load in a task (i.e., the amount of information involved in processing task-relevant stimuli) determines the efficiency of selective attention. There is evidence that perceptual load affects distractor processing, with increased inattentional blindness under high load. Given that high load can result in individuals failing to report seeing obvious objects, it is conceivable that load may also impair memory for the scene. The current study is the first to assess the effect of perceptual load on eyewitness memory. Across three experiments (two video-based and one in a driving simulator), the effect of perceptual load on eyewitness memory was assessed. The results showed that eyewitnesses were less accurate under high load, in particular for peripheral details. For example, memory for the central character in the video was not affected by load but memory for a witness who passed by the window at the edge of the scene was significantly worse under high load. High load memories were also more open to suggestion, showing increased susceptibility to leading questions. High visual perceptual load also affected recall for auditory information, illustrating a possible cross-modal perceptual load effect on memory accuracy. These results have implications for eyewitness memory researchers and forensic professionals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gillian Murphy
- School of Applied Psychology, University College Cork Cork, Ireland
| | - Ciara M Greene
- School of Psychology, University College Dublin Dublin, Ireland
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21
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Lin G, Carlile S. Costs of switching auditory spatial attention in following conversational turn-taking. Front Neurosci 2015; 9:124. [PMID: 25941466 PMCID: PMC4403343 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2015.00124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2015] [Accepted: 03/26/2015] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Following a multi-talker conversation relies on the ability to rapidly and efficiently shift the focus of spatial attention from one talker to another. The current study investigated the listening costs associated with shifts in spatial attention during conversational turn-taking in 16 normally-hearing listeners using a novel sentence recall task. Three pairs of syntactically fixed but semantically unpredictable matrix sentences, recorded from a single male talker, were presented concurrently through an array of three loudspeakers (directly ahead and +/−30° azimuth). Subjects attended to one spatial location, cued by a tone, and followed the target conversation from one sentence to the next using the call-sign at the beginning of each sentence. Subjects were required to report the last three words of each sentence (speech recall task) or answer multiple choice questions related to the target material (speech comprehension task). The reading span test, attention network test, and trail making test were also administered to assess working memory, attentional control, and executive function. There was a 10.7 ± 1.3% decrease in word recall, a pronounced primacy effect, and a rise in masker confusion errors and word omissions when the target switched location between sentences. Switching costs were independent of the location, direction, and angular size of the spatial shift but did appear to be load dependent and only significant for complex questions requiring multiple cognitive operations. Reading span scores were positively correlated with total words recalled, and negatively correlated with switching costs and word omissions. Task switching speed (Trail-B time) was also significantly correlated with recall accuracy. Overall, this study highlights (i) the listening costs associated with shifts in spatial attention and (ii) the important role of working memory in maintaining goal relevant information and extracting meaning from dynamic multi-talker conversations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaven Lin
- Auditory Neuroscience Laboratory, Department of Physiology, School of Medical Sciences, University of Sydney Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Simon Carlile
- Auditory Neuroscience Laboratory, Department of Physiology, School of Medical Sciences, University of Sydney Sydney, NSW, Australia
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22
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Abstract
Previous research has shown that loading information on working memory affects selective attention. However, whether the load effect on selective attention is domain-general or domain-specific remains unresolved. The domain-general effect refers to the findings that load in one content (e.g. phonological) domain in working memory influences processing in another content (e.g., visuospatial) domain. Attentional control supervises selection regardless of information domain. The domain-specific effect refers to the constraint of influence only when maintenance and processing operate in the same domain. Selective attention operates in a specific content domain. This study is designed to resolve this controversy. Across three experiments, we manipulated the type of representation maintained in working memory and the type of representation upon which the participants must exert control to resolve conflict and select a target into the focus of attention. In Experiments 1a and 1b, participants maintained digits and nonverbalized objects, respectively, in working memory while selecting a target in a letter array. In Experiment 2, we presented auditory digits with a letter flanker task to exclude the involvement of resource competition within the same input modality. In Experiments 3a and 3b, we replaced the letter flanker task with an object flanker task while manipulating the memory load on object and digit representation, respectively. The results consistently showed that memory load modulated distractibility only when the stimuli of the two tasks were represented in the same domain. The magnitude of distractor interference was larger under high load than under low load, reflecting a lower efficacy of information prioritization. When the stimuli of the two tasks were represented in different domains, memory load did not modulate distractibility. Control of processing priority in selective attention demands domain-specific resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Szu-Hung Lin
- Department of Psychology, National Taiwan University, Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Yei-Yu Yeh
- Department of Psychology, National Taiwan University, Taipei City, Taiwan
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23
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Roper ZJJ, Vecera SP. Response terminated displays unload selective attention. Front Psychol 2013; 4:967. [PMID: 24399983 PMCID: PMC3872048 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2013.00967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2013] [Accepted: 12/07/2013] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Perceptual load theory successfully replaced the early vs. late selection debate by appealing to adaptive control over the efficiency of selective attention. Early selection is observed unless perceptual load (p-Load) is sufficiently low to grant attentional “spill-over” to task-irrelevant stimuli. Many studies exploring load theory have used limited display durations that perhaps impose artificial limits on encoding processes. We extended the exposure duration in a classic p-Load task to alleviate temporal encoding demands that may otherwise tax mnemonic consolidation processes. If the load effect arises from perceptual demands alone, then freeing-up available mnemonic resources by extending the exposure duration should have little effect. The results of Experiment 1 falsify this prediction. We observed a reliable flanker effect under high p-Load, response-terminated displays. Next, we orthogonally manipulated exposure duration and task-relevance. Counter-intuitively, we found that the likelihood of observing the flanker effect under high p-Load resides with the duration of the task-relevant array, not the flanker itself. We propose that stimulus and encoding demands interact to produce the load effect. Our account clarifies how task parameters differentially impinge upon cognitive processes to produce attentional “spill-over” by appealing to visual short-term memory as an additional processing bottleneck when stimuli are briefly presented.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Shaun P Vecera
- Department of Psychology, University of Iowa, Iowa City IA, USA
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24
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Linnell KJ, Caparos S. Perceptual load and early selection: an effect of attentional engagement? Front Psychol 2013; 4:498. [PMID: 23935587 PMCID: PMC3731537 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2013.00498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2013] [Accepted: 07/16/2013] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Karina J Linnell
- Department of Psychology, Goldsmiths, University of London London, UK
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25
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de Fockert JW. Beyond perceptual load and dilution: a review of the role of working memory in selective attention. Front Psychol 2013; 4:287. [PMID: 23734139 PMCID: PMC3659333 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2013.00287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2012] [Accepted: 05/04/2013] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The perceptual load and dilution models differ fundamentally in terms of the proposed mechanism underlying variation in distractibility during different perceptual conditions. However, both models predict that distracting information can be processed beyond perceptual processing under certain conditions, a prediction that is well-supported by the literature. Load theory proposes that in such cases, where perceptual task aspects do not allow for sufficient attentional selectivity, the maintenance of task-relevant processing depends on cognitive control mechanisms, including working memory. The key prediction is that working memory plays a role in keeping clear processing priorities in the face of potential distraction, and the evidence reviewed and evaluated in a meta-analysis here supports this claim, by showing that the processing of distracting information tends to be enhanced when load on a concurrent task of working memory is high. Low working memory capacity is similarly associated with greater distractor processing in selective attention, again suggesting that the unavailability of working memory during selective attention leads to an increase in distractibility. Together, these findings suggest that selective attention against distractors that are processed beyond perception depends on the availability of working memory. Possible mechanisms for the effects of working memory on selective attention are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan W. de Fockert
- Department of Psychology, Goldsmiths, University of LondonLondon, UK
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26
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Working memory load can both improve and impair selective attention: evidence from the Navon paradigm. Atten Percept Psychophys 2013; 74:1397-405. [PMID: 22872549 DOI: 10.3758/s13414-012-0357-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Selective attention to relevant targets has been shown to depend on the availability of working memory (WM). Under conditions of high WM load, processing of irrelevant distractors is enhanced. Here we showed that this detrimental effect of WM load on selective attention efficiency is reversed when the task requires global- rather than local-level processing. Participants were asked to attend to either the local or the global level of a hierarchical Navon stimulus while keeping either a low or a high load in WM. In line with previous findings, during attention to the local level, distractors at the global level produced more interference under high than under low WM load. By contrast, loading WM had the opposite effect of improving selective attention during attention to the global level. The findings demonstrate that the impact of WM load on selective attention is not invariant, but rather is dependent on the level of the to-be-attended information.
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27
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Ghahghaei S, Linnell KJ, Fischer MH, Dubey A, Davis R. Effects of load on the time course of attentional engagement, disengagement, and orienting in reading. Q J Exp Psychol (Hove) 2013; 66:453-70. [DOI: 10.1080/17470218.2011.635795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
Abstract
We examined how the frequency of the fixated word influences the spatiotemporal distribution of covert attention during reading. Participants discriminated gaze-contingent probes that occurred with different spatial and temporal offsets from randomly chosen fixation points during reading. We found that attention was initially focused at fixation and that subsequent defocusing was slower when the fixated word was lower in frequency. Later in a fixation, attention oriented more towards the next saccadic target for high- than for low-frequency words. These results constitute the first report of the time course of the effect of load on attentional engagement and orienting in reading. They are discussed in the context of serial and parallel models of reading.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saeideh Ghahghaei
- Department of Psychology, Goldsmiths, University of London, London, UK
- The Smith-Kettlewell Eye Research Institute, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Karina J. Linnell
- Department of Psychology, Goldsmiths, University of London, London, UK
| | - Martin H. Fischer
- Department of Psychology, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
- Division of Cognitive Science, University of Potsdam, Germany
| | - Amit Dubey
- Department of Psychology, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
- School of Informatics, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Robert Davis
- Department of Psychology, Goldsmiths, University of London, London, UK
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Ahmed L, de Fockert JW. Focusing on attention: the effects of working memory capacity and load on selective attention. PLoS One 2012; 7:e43101. [PMID: 22952636 PMCID: PMC3429456 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0043101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2011] [Accepted: 07/19/2012] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Working memory (WM) is imperative for effective selective attention. Distractibility is greater under conditions of high (vs. low) concurrent working memory load (WML), and in individuals with low (vs. high) working memory capacity (WMC). In the current experiments, we recorded the flanker task performance of individuals with high and low WMC during low and high WML, to investigate the combined effect of WML and WMC on selective attention. Methodology/Principal Findings In Experiment 1, distractibility from a distractor at a fixed distance from the target was greater when either WML was high or WMC was low, but surprisingly smaller when both WML was high and WMC low. Thus we observed an inverted-U relationship between reductions in WM resources and distractibility. In Experiment 2, we mapped the distribution of spatial attention as a function of WMC and WML, by recording distractibility across several target-to-distractor distances. The pattern of distractor effects across the target-to-distractor distances demonstrated that the distribution of the attentional window becomes dispersed as WM resources are limited. The attentional window was more spread out under high compared to low WML, and for low compared to high WMC individuals, and even more so when the two factors co-occurred (i.e., under high WML in low WMC individuals). The inverted-U pattern of distractibility effects in Experiment 1, replicated in Experiment 2, can thus be explained by differences in the spread of the attentional window as a function of WM resource availability. Conclusions/Significance The current findings show that limitations in WM resources, due to either WML or individual differences in WMC, affect the spatial distribution of attention. The difference in attentional constraining between high and low WMC individuals demonstrated in the current experiments helps characterise the nature of previously established associations between WMC and controlled attention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lubna Ahmed
- Goldsmiths, University of London, London, United Kingdom.
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29
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de Fockert JW, Bremner AJ. Release of inattentional blindness by high working memory load: Elucidating the relationship between working memory and selective attention. Cognition 2011; 121:400-8. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cognition.2011.08.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2009] [Revised: 07/19/2011] [Accepted: 08/28/2011] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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