Shifting visuo-spatial attention in a virtual three-dimensional space.
The present investigation, with a virtual reality set-up, aimed to study attentional orienting within a three-dimensional visual world. Near and far stimuli were used. Half of the subjects were provided with a virtual representation of their body, whereas half were not. Results showed a different distribution of attentional resources in the two conditions, suggesting a dissociation between attentional systems controlling the proximal and the distal visual space. In particular, attention was focused close to the subject's body when a virtual representation of it was present, whereas attention was focused away from the body when a virtual representation of the body was not present.
Maringelli
F
F
Cognitive Neuroscience Sector, International School for Advanced Studies, Trieste, Italy.
McCarthy
J
J
Steed
A
A
Slater
M
M
Umiltà
C
C
D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology*; D003196:Computer Graphics; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D013028:Space Perception / Q000502:physiology*