Does color synesthesia pose a paradox for early-selection theories of attention?
P.M. is a synesthete who experiences colors when viewing alphanumeric symbols. Her search for a target differing from distractors by a synesthetic color feature takes the form of a pop-out search. Thus, it would seem that synesthesia can occur preattentively. However, discrepancies between the regression functions of response times observed in target-present trials and target-absent trials, and the fact that fast response times occur only when the target is within a few degrees of visual angle from fixation, indicate that P.M.'s synesthesia does not occur preattentively, but rather is within the focus of attention. We conclude that synesthesia is a genuine perceptual phenomenon that can have substantial influence on visual processing.
Laeng
Bruno
B
Department of Psychology, University of Tromsø, Tromsø, Norway. bruno@psyk.uit.no
Svartdal
Frode
F
Oelmann
Hella
H
D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology*; D002755:Choice Behavior; D003118:Color Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010468:Perceptual Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011582:Psychological Theory; D014796:Visual Perception / Q000502:physiology