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Measuring Attention and Visual Processing Speed by Model-based Analysis of Temporal-order Judgments
Published on: January 23, 2017
Object-based attention occurs regardless of object awareness.
1Department of Psychology, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Rd., Taipei, Taiwan.
Psychonomic Bulletin & Review
|January 13, 2012
Summary
Object-based attention guides focus even when objects are not consciously perceived. This research demonstrates unconscious object-based attention, crucial for feature binding in both conscious and unconscious processing.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Neuroscience
- Visual Perception
Background:
- Object-based attention allows attentional resources to be allocated to entire objects, not just locations.
- Previous research suggested awareness might be necessary for object-based attentional effects.
- The role of conscious awareness in attentional selection remains a key question in cognitive science.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if conscious awareness of objects is a prerequisite for object-based attentional guidance.
- To investigate the influence of object visibility on the same-object advantage.
- To explore the implications of object-based attention for feature binding under varying awareness conditions.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the two-rectangle method to measure object-based attention (same-object advantage).
- Employed continuous flash suppression to manipulate and control object visibility, rendering stimuli either visible or invisible.
- Measured reaction times to targets presented within cued versus non-cued objects.
Main Results:
- The same-object advantage, indicating object-based attention, was observed irrespective of participants' awareness of the objects.
- Object-based attentional effects persisted even when the objects were rendered invisible through continuous flash suppression.
- This provides the first evidence for object-based attention operating under unconscious conditions.
Conclusions:
- Conscious awareness is not necessary for object-based attentional guidance.
- Attentional selection can operate at the object level even for invisible stimuli.
- Object-based attentional mechanisms play a fundamental role in feature binding, supporting both conscious and unconscious processing.
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