Temporal dynamics of reflexive attention shifts: a dual-stream rapid serial visual presentation exploration.

Full Abstract

We combined a prototypical exogenous cuing procedure with rapid serial visual presentation (RSVP) to provide a precise characterization of the temporal dynamics of reflexive attention shifts. The novel paradigm thus created has several useful properties, most notably that the physical presentation of the target is neither an onset nor a unique event and that temporal precision is provided without the requirement for a speeded response. A biphasic pattern was observed, with early benefits followed by later costs (inhibition of return) at the cued location relative to the uncued location. The finding of inhibition of return in this paradigm disproves the assertion that inhibition of return is merely a reluctance to respond in the target's direction. It may be partly that, but encoding mechanisms linked to attention must also be involved.

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Author information

Author/s: Klein, Raymond M (RM); Dick, Bruce (B);

Affiliation: Department of Psychology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. ray.klein(-atsign-)dal.ca

Journal and publication information

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

Journal: Psychological science : a journal of the American Psychological Society / APS (Psychol Sci), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2002-Mar; vol 13 (issue 2) : pp 176-9

Dates: Created 2002/04/05; Completed 2002/10/29; Revised 2006/11/15;

PMID: 11934004, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

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