On the Precision of Attention Sets: The Effect of Multiple Cues on Contingent Capture

• Other Authors: Blakely, Daniel P. (authoraut)
• Format: Others
• Language: English; English
• Published: Florida State University
• Subjects: Psychology; Neurosciences
• Online Access: http://purl.flvc.org/fsu/fd/FSU_migr_etd-8135

The contingent spatial blink paradigm developed by Folk, Leber, and Egeth (2002) reveals a surprising lack of control when it comes to our ability to maintain attention sets (goals). A completely irrelevant distractor sharing the color of a target letter captures attention and impairs identification even when this distractor is spatially distant from the target's location and the target's location is known, central and constant. This contrasts with subjective everyday experience in which we are able to efficiently restrict search based on known target locations. However, unlike the tasks and environments we navigate every day, laboratory paradigms measuring attentional control are typically visually sparse, abstract and devoid of context. We begin to ask the question: what are the cues present in complex everyday environments that allow for the efficient restriction of attention that are absent in laboratory capture paradigms? Three experiments explored this question. Experiment 1 examined how distractor frequency and distractor location consistency might influence capture rates. Experiment 2 tested whether spatial context in the form of a simple scene might generate more precise attention sets robust to peripheral distraction. Finally, Experiment 3 investigated potential capture reduction gained from combining multiple attention restricting elements from the previous experiments. Few manipulations decreased capture rate, and when capture rate was decreased it was not decreased by much. However, results suggest that multiple, simultaneous cues can reduce contingent capture over and above individual cues, thereby providing insight into how observers are able to employ efficient attentional allocation in complex environments. === A Thesis submitted to the Department of Psychology in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science. === Summer Semester, 2013. === February 14, 2013. === Attention capture, Contingent capture, Visual attention === Includes bibliographical references. === Walter R. Boot, Professor Directing Thesis; Michael P. Kaschak, Committee Member; Jon K. Maner, Committee Member.