On asymmetries in cross-modal spatial attention orienting

Area of Science:

• Cognitive Psychology
• Neuroscience
• Intersensory Perception

Background:

• Previous research shows conflicting results regarding cross-modal spatial attention orienting.
• Ward (1994) reported visual cues orient auditory attention, but not vice versa.
• Spence and Driver (1997) found the opposite asymmetry, attributing Ward's findings to response priming.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate cross-modal interactions in stimulus-driven spatial attention orienting.
• To examine if Ward's (1994) findings of visual-to-auditory attention orienting persist under complex cue conditions.
• To differentiate between strategic effects and response priming in cross-modal attention.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a complex cue environment similar to Ward (1994).
• Employed an experimental procedure designed to eliminate response-priming artifacts.
• Measured cross-modal spatial attention orienting using specific tasks and stimuli.

Main Results:

• The cross-modal asymmetry reported by Ward (1994) was replicated under complex cue conditions.
• Spatially uninformative visual cues effectively oriented auditory attention.
• Spatially uninformative auditory cues did not orient visual attention.

Conclusions:

• The visual modality's dominance in cross-modal attention orienting is confirmed under specific complex conditions.
• Strategic effects in attention orienting explain the divergent findings between Ward (1994) and Spence & Driver (1997).
• Response priming is not the sole factor explaining cross-modal attention asymmetries.