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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 8, 2026

A Cognitive Paradigm to Investigate Interference in Working Memory by Distractions and Interruptions

A Cognitive Paradigm to Investigate Interference in Working Memory by Distractions and Interruptions

Published on: July 16, 2015

On the relationship between flanker interference and localized attentional interference.

Jason S McCarley¹, Jeffrey R W Mounts

¹Department of Psychology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Beckman Institute, Institute of Aviation, 405 N. Mathews, Urbana, IL 61801, United States. mccarley@uiuc.edu

Acta Psychologica

|December 25, 2007

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Visual attention involves a mental spotlight, but nearby items can interfere. This study shows that both flanker interference (FI) and localized attentional interference (LAI) decrease with distance, suggesting attention distribution modulates object competition.

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Area of Science:

Cognitive Psychology
Visual Perception
Neuroscience

Background:

Flanker interference (FI) suggests visual attention acts as a spotlight.
Localized attentional interference (LAI) indicates difficulty dividing attention between nearby visual stimuli.
The relationship between FI and LAI requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the interplay between flanker interference (FI) and localized attentional interference (LAI).
To determine how spatial attention distribution influences attentional interference effects.

Main Methods:

Participants performed speeded identity judgments on a target letter amidst distractors.
Response-compatible or -incompatible flankers were presented at varying distances from the target.
Target location pre-cuing and target salience were manipulated.

Main Results:

Evidence for both LAI and spatially-graded FI was observed.
Both interference effects diminished as target-flanker separation increased.
Interference was reduced by pre-cuing target location and increasing target salience.

Conclusions:

Spatial attention distribution influences the strength of competing objects.
Both FI and LAI effects appear to stem from this object competition mechanism.
Understanding attentional interference is key to visual perception research.