Rapid attentional selection processes operate independently and in parallel for multiple targets

Abstract

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Top-down suppression of negative features applies flexibly contingent on visual search goals

“…In Experiment 2 , we found that blue cues elicited standard validity effects in the positive search task but non-significant validity effects in the negative search task consistent with previous evidence for the flexibility of top-down control in visual search for specific colors (e.g., Grubert & Eimer, 2016 ; Lien et al, 2010 ). Furthermore, our results indicate that cues selectively captured attention depending on whether they carried a target-matching feature.…”

The speed of voluntary and priority-driven shifts of visual attention.

“…This problem can be overcome by presenting one of these targets on the vertical meridian (above or below fixation). Because vertical targets do not elicit N2pc components, the N2pc will exclusively reflect the selection of the horizontal target, independently of any additional attentional processing of the vertical target object (e.g., Eimer & Grubert, 2014;Eimer, Kiss, & Nicholas, 2011;Hickey, Di Lollo, & McDonald, 2009;Hickey, McDonald, & Theeuwes, 2006;Woodman, & Luck, 1999;Eimer & Grubert, 2014;Grubert & Eimer, 2015, 2016aJenkins, Grubert, & Eimer, 2016).…”

Suppression of salient stimuli inside the focus of attention

“…However, alternative accounts are possible. For instance, it is possible that the attentional processes involved in the comparison of two stimuli take longer than processes involved in the identification of a single stimulus (see Grubert & Eimer, 2016a, Experiment 1, for similar findings). More research is needed to clarify this issue.…”

“…These predictions also rely on the assumption that the response-irrelevant shapes surrounding the target lines are attentionally processed. That is, a single focus of attention is either shifted rapidly between the two relevant target locations or is expanded to include both target locations for parallel processing (Eimer & Grubert, 2014;Grubert & Eimer, 2016a). For instance, the attentional focus may take on the shape of an ellipse including the two lateral positions and (at least part of) the surrounding shapes (e.g., Pan & Eriksen, 1993).…”