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Updated: Aug 14, 2026
A Dual Task Procedure Combined with Rapid Serial Visual Presentation to Test Attentional Blink for Nontargets
Published on: December 5, 2014
Insights into the control of attentional set in ADHD using the attentional blink paradigm
Deanna J Mason1, Glyn W Humphreys, Lindsey Kent
1School of Psychology, University of Exeter, UK. deanna.j.mason@exeter.ac.uk
Insights
Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) showed normal visual selective attention but struggled with temporal tasks and were more susceptible to distractions, indicating attentional control deficits.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
Background:
- Previous research on Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and visual selective attention primarily used spatial search tasks.
- This study investigated temporal search using Rapid Serial Visual Presentation (RSVP) in children with and without ADHD.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare visual selective attention in children with ADHD versus controls using a temporal search task.
- To examine the impact of irrelevant singleton distractors on search performance in ADHD.
Main Methods:
- Participants performed a temporal search task with Rapid Serial Visual Presentation (RSVP).
- Task variations included reporting a probe, reporting both a target and probe, and the presence of color singleton distractors.
Main Results:
- All children experienced an 'attentional blink', with reduced probe detection at close temporal distances to the target.
- Children with ADHD made more overall errors and showed no group differences in attentional blink recovery.
- The ADHD group was more vulnerable to distraction by irrelevant singletons.
Conclusions:
- Basic visual selective attention mechanisms appear intact in children with ADHD.
- Children with ADHD may require more cognitive resources for attentional tasks.
- Deficits in maintaining attentional control and increased vulnerability to distraction were observed in ADHD.
Background:
Previous work on visual selective attention in Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) has utilised spatial search paradigms. This study compared ADHD to control children on a temporal search task using Rapid Serial Visual Presentation (RSVP). In addition, the effects of irrelevant singleton distractors on search performance were examined.
Method:
In each condition, subjects reported the identity of a red letter 'probe' in a sequence of white letters which appeared one after the other at a central fixation point. The temporal position of the probe varied from an initial target, which was distinguished by surrounding asterisks. The target was reported in addition to the probe in condition 2, but not in the baseline condition 1. In a third condition, the initial target was not reported, but one of the asterisks appeared as a colour singleton on some trials.
Results:
All children displayed an 'attentional blink' with probe detection reduced when it appeared at close temporal relations relative to the target. This 'blink' reduced over time, and there were no group differences in the recovery of performance, although ADHD children made more errors overall. The ADHD group were also more vulnerable than controls to distraction from irrelevant singletons in condition 3.
Conclusion:
Although the basic mechanisms of selective attention were not impaired in children with ADHD, these children appeared to require more resources to execute the task and were more vulnerable to distraction by irrelevant singletons, indicating deficits in the maintenance of attentional control.
