Object-guided spatial attention in touch: holding the same object with both hands delays attentional selection

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Cognitive Psychology
• Somatosensation

Background:

• Spatial attention in vision spreads across uniform objects.
• Previous research suggests tactile attention may also be object-guided.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate whether spatial attention in touch is object-guided.
• To determine the influence of object integration on tactile attentional selection.

Main Methods:

• Measured event-related brain potentials (ERPs) to tactile stimuli.
• Manipulated hand proximity (near vs. far) and object integration (separate vs. common object).
• Used covert attention orienting tasks with tactile cues.

Main Results:

• Attentional modulations in early somatosensory processing occurred only when hands were far apart holding separate objects.
• Holding a common object with far-apart hands delayed attentional selection, similar to when hands were near.
• Enhanced somatosensory processing at attended locations, not suppression at unattended locations, drove the effect.

Conclusions:

• Tactile attention can be guided by objects, mirroring visual attention mechanisms.
• The integration of tactile stimuli into a single object influences attentional selection.
• Both space- and object-based attentional mechanisms operate in tactile processing.