title: Limits of control: the effects of uncontrollability experiences on the efficiency of attentional control.
abstract: Two experiments were conducted to explore the effects of experiencing uncontrollability on the efficiency of attentional control. The experience of uncontrollability was induced either by unsolvable tasks (Experiment 1) or by tasks in which non-contingent feedback was provided (Experiment 2). A version of the Attentional Network Test-Interactions with an additional measure of vigilance (ANTI-V) was used to evaluate the efficiency of the attentional networks (i.e., alerting, orienting, and executive). Results of both experiments revealed a decreased efficiency of executive attention in participants who experienced stable control deprivation but no negative effects in participants who were able to restore their sense of previously deprived control. Additionally, when participants were asked to perform unsolvable tasks and did not receive feedback (Experiment 1), detrimental effects on the orienting network and vigilance were observed. The motivational and cognitive mechanisms underlying the effects of various uncontrollability experiences on conflict resolution and attentional control are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychology, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland. Electronic address: marcin.bukowski@uj.edu.pl.
authors.forename: Marcin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bukowski
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychology, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland.
authors.forename: Dariusz
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Asanowicz
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marzecová
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Psicología Experimental, Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain.
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lupiáñez
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention; D056344:Executive Function; D030141:Feedback, Psychological; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009949:Orientation; D011930:Reaction Time
keywords: Attentional control; Attentional networks; Control deprivation; Personal control motivation