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Reflexive spatial orienting of tactile attention.
1Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3UD, UK. charles.spence@psy.ox.ac.uk
Experimental Brain Research
|November 21, 2001
Summary
Tactile spatial attention can be automatically directed by external cues. This study shows that nonpredictive tactile cues facilitate faster and more accurate responses to subsequent stimuli on the same body side.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Somatosensory Perception
- Human Attention
Background:
- Covert orienting describes attention shifts without eye movements.
- Exogenous attention is automatically captured by external stimuli.
- Tactile spatial attention research is less developed than visual or auditory attention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the reflexive (exogenous) orienting of tactile spatial attention.
- To determine if peripheral tactile cues can automatically direct attention.
- To examine the effect of cue-target spatial congruence on tactile performance.
Main Methods:
- Participants performed speeded tactile elevation discrimination tasks (up vs. down).
- A spatially nonpredictive tactile cue preceded targets at variable stimulus onset asynchronies (200-400 ms).
- Cues and targets were presented to the index finger or thumb of either hand, on the same or opposite side.
Main Results:
- Tactile discrimination responses were significantly faster and more accurate when cues and targets appeared on the same side.
- This facilitation effect demonstrates reflexive orienting of tactile attention.
- Performance was impaired when cues and targets were on opposite sides.
Conclusions:
- Provides the first empirical evidence for covert reflexive orienting of tactile spatial attention.
- Peripheral tactile cues can automatically direct spatial attention.
- This mechanism likely enhances sensory processing at attended body sites.