title: Load theory of selective attention and cognitive control.
abstract: A load theory of attention in which distractor rejection depends on the level and type of load involved in current processing was tested. A series of experiments demonstrates that whereas high perceptual load reduces distractor interference, working memory load or dual-task coordination load increases distractor interference. These findings suggest 2 selective attention mechanisms: a perceptual selection mechanism serving to reduce distractor perception in situations of high perceptual load that exhaust perceptual capacity in processing relevant stimuli and a cognitive control mechanism that reduces interference from perceived distractors as long as cognitive control functions are available to maintain current priorities (low cognitive load). This theory resolves the long-standing early versus late selection debate and clarifies the role of cognitive control in selective attention.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University College London, London, United Kingdom. n.lavie@ucl.ac.uk
authors.forename: Nilli
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lavie
authors.forename: Aleksandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hirst
authors.forename: Jan W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: de Fockert
authors.forename: Essi
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Viding
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001288:Attention; D003071:Cognition; D006801:Humans; D008570:Memory, Short-Term; D008960:Models, Psychological; D006113:United Kingdom; D014796:Visual Perception