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Measuring Attention and Visual Processing Speed by Model-based Analysis of Temporal-order Judgments

Measuring Attention and Visual Processing Speed by Model-based Analysis of Temporal-order Judgments

Published on: January 23, 2017

On altering motion perception via working memory-based attention shifts.

Massimo Turatto¹, Massimo Vescovi, Matteo Valsecchi

¹Department of Cognitive Sciences and Education, Center for Mind/Brain Science, University of Trento, Italy. massimo.turatto@unitn.it

Journal of Vision

|October 10, 2008

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Working Memory (WM) content can involuntarily shift spatial attention, prioritizing matching stimuli. However, this WM-based attention does not appear to alter motion speed perception, suggesting later visual processing stages.

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Area of Science:

Cognitive Neuroscience
Visual Perception
Working Memory Research

Background:

Transient spatial attention influences perception of stimulus properties like contrast and motion speed.
Emerging evidence suggests involuntary attention shifts can be guided by Working Memory (WM) content.
The biased competition model posits that WM-matching stimuli gain attentional priority.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate if WM-guided attention shifts modulate motion speed perception.
To confirm the existence of WM-based attention shifts using behavioral measures.
To differentiate the processing stages of WM-based versus transient attention.

Main Methods:

Five experiments were conducted to test the influence of WM content on attention.
Target discrimination tasks were used to confirm WM-based attention shifts.
Speed-discrimination tasks were employed to assess motion perception modulation.

Main Results:

Response times for target discrimination were significantly faster when a stimulus matched the WM content.
No significant modulation of motion speed perception was observed based on WM content.
Behavioral evidence confirmed WM-based attention shifts but not their impact on motion speed perception.

Conclusions:

WM-based attention shifts are confirmed and influence attentional prioritization.
WM-based attention does not appear to affect the perception of motion speed.
These findings suggest WM-based attention operates at later visual processing stages than transient attention.