Influence of attentional capture on oculomotor control.
Previous research has shown that when searching for a color singleton, top-down control cannot prevent attentional capture by an abrupt visual onset. The present research addressed whether a task-irrelevant abrupt onset would affect eye movement behavior when searching for a color singleton. Results show that in many instances the eye moved in the direction of the task-irrelevant abrupt onset. There was evidence that top-down control could neither entirely prevent attentional capture by visual onsets nor prevent the eye from starting to move in the direction of the onset. Results suggest parallel programming of 2 saccades: 1 voluntary goal-directed eye movement toward the color singleton target and 1 stimulus-driven eye movement reflexively elicited by the abrupt onset. A neurophysiologically plausible model that can account for the current findings is discussed.
Theeuwes
J
J
TNO Human Factors Research Institute, Soesterberg, The Netherlands. j.theeuwes@psy.vu.nl
Kramer
A F
AF
Hahn
S
S
Irwin
D E
DE
Zelinsky
G J
GJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology; D003118:Color Perception / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009949:Orientation / Q000502:physiology; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual / Q000502:physiology; D011603:Psychophysiology; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D012438:Saccades / Q000502:physiology