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Measuring Attention and Visual Processing Speed by Model-based Analysis of Temporal-order Judgments
Published on: January 23, 2017
Fixation strategy influences the ability to focus attention on two spatially separate objects.
Stefanie Hüttermann1, Daniel Memmert, Daniel J Simons
1Institute of Cognitive and Team/Racket Sport Research, German Sport University Cologne, Cologne, Germany. s.huettermann@dshs-koeln.de
Plos One
|June 19, 2013
Summary
Fixating between two visual objects, rather than on one, enhances attention breadth. This strategy improved performance for both novices and sports experts, suggesting a method to optimize multi-object attention.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive psychology
- Visual attention research
Background:
- Simultaneous attention to multiple visual objects is crucial for daily tasks and professional settings.
- Previous research primarily focused on fixating on one object, neglecting strategies for attending to two distinct objects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically investigate fixation strategies for optimizing attention to two spatially separated visual objects.
- To compare performance between fixating on one object versus fixating between two objects.
Main Methods:
- Participants performed tasks under two conditions: one object at fixation and one in the periphery, versus both objects in the periphery with fixation in between.
- Performance was measured to assess attention breadth.
Main Results:
- Performance was significantly better when both objects were peripheral and fixation was between them, compared to one central and one peripheral object.
- This 'fixating between' strategy demonstrated a greater attention breadth.
Conclusions:
- Fixating between spatially distinct visual objects enhances attention breadth and task performance.
- This finding offers practical implications for improving performance in situations requiring attention to multiple objects across different spatial locations.
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