Perception in the absence of attention: perceptual processing in the Roelofs effect during inattentional blindness.
We present two experiments that examine sensory processing during conditions of inattentional blindness. A large rectangular frame that normally induces a Roelofs effect can go unreported due to inattentional blindness. Even when participants fail to report the frame, they mislocalize an attended target in a way consistent with having processed the frame. A more demanding visuospatial distractor task can increase inattentional blindness during conditions of divided attention, but has no effect on the spatial mislocalization illusion. Our results support theories that postulate a significant amount of perceptual processing in the absence of attention.
Electronics Research Laboratory, Volkswagen Group of America, Belmont, CA, USA. brian.lathrop@vw.com
William B
WB
Lathrop
Bruce
B
Bridgeman
Philip
P
Tseng
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention; D001364:Awareness; D004192:Discrimination, Psychological; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009903:Optical Illusions; D009949:Orientation; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D012858:Size Perception; D013028:Space Perception; D055815:Young Adult