Global feature-based attention for motion and color.

Full Abstract

We used a divided attention psychophysical task to test the hypothesis that visual attention to a stimulus feature(1) facilitates the processing of other stimuli sharing the same feature. Performance on a dual-task was significantly better when human observers divided attention across two spatially separate stimuli sharing a common feature (same direction of motion or same color) compared to opposing features. This attentional effect was dependent upon the presence of competing stimuli. These results are consistent with a spatially global feature-based mechanism of attention that increases the response of cortical neurons tuned to an attended feature throughout the visual field.

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Author information

Author/s: Sàenz, Melissa (M); Buracas, Giedrius T (GT); Boynton, Geoffrey M (GM);

Affiliation: The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, Systems Neurobiology Laboratory--B, 10010 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.

Grants: EY12925 (Agency:United States NEI)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

Journal: Vision research (Vision Res), published in England. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2003-Mar; vol 43 (issue 6) : pp 629-37

Dates: Created 2003/02/26; Completed 2003/06/20; Revised 2007/11/14;

PMID: 12604099, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 11/6/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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