Onset but not offset of irrelevant motion disrupts inhibition of return.
In seven experiments, subjects were slower to detect targets in cued static objects than in uncued static objects, revealing inhibition of return (IOR). This occurred regardless of the presence or absence of continuous motion of other, task-irrelevant objects in the display. However, if the motion of the irrelevant objects began during the interval between cue and target, the amount of IOR was considerably reduced. Offset of motion during the cue-target interval had no effect. Implications for IOR, object perception, and attentional capture are discussed.
Department of Psychology, Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA. rabrams@wustl.edu
Richard A
RA
Abrams
Shawn E
SE
Christ
D001288:Attention; D003463:Cues; D006801:Humans; D009039:Motion Perception; D011930:Reaction Time