The attentional blink with targets in different spatial locations.
When two targets (T1 and T2) are displayed in rapid succession, accuracy of T2 identification varies as a function of the temporal lag between the targets (attentional blink, AB). In some studies, performance has been found to be most impaired at Lag 1--namely, when T2 followed T1 directly. In other studies, T2 performance at Lag 1 has been virtually unimpaired (Lag 1 sparing). In the present work, we examined how Lag 1 sparing is affected by attentional switches between targets displayed in the same location or in different locations. We found that Lag 1 sparing does not occur when a spatial shift is required between T1 and T2. This suggests that attention cannot be switched to a new location while the system is busy processing another stimulus. The results are explained by a modified version of an attentional gating model (Chun & Potter, 1995; Shapiro & Raymond, 1994).
Visser
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TA
Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, 2136 West Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4 Canada. tvisser@interchange.ubc.ca
Zuvic
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Bischof
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Di Lollo
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D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001288:Attention; D001955:British Columbia; D005403:Fixation, Ocular; D006801:Humans; D012684:Sensory Thresholds; D013997:Time Factors; D014796:Visual Perception