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Interference: Path Lengths

Interference: Path Lengths

Consider two sources of sound, that may or may not be in phase, emitting waves at a single frequency, and consider the frequencies to be the same.
Two special sources may be considered when they are in phase. This can be easily achieved by feeding the two sources from the same source. An example would be synchronizing the two speakers by feeding them with the same source, such as the sound waves produced by a tuning fork. This setup ensures that the two sources have the same frequency and are...

$Interference and Diffraction$ 02:18

Interference and Diffraction

Interference is a characteristic phenomenon exhibited by waves. When two electromagnetic waves interact with their peaks and troughs coinciding, a resulting wave with enhanced amplitude is produced. This is known as constructive interference. In this case, the two waves interacting are in phase with each other.

Bystander Effect

Bystander Effect

The discussion of bullying highlights the problem of witnesses not intervening to help a victim. This is a common occurrence, as the following well-publicized event demonstrates. In 1964, in Queens, New York, a 19-year-old woman named Kitty Genovese was attacked by a person with a knife near the back entrance to her apartment building and again in the hallway inside her apartment building. When the attack occurred, she screamed for help numerous times and eventually died from her stab wounds.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 3, 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

Flanker interference effects in a line bisection task.

Sergio Chieffi¹, Tina Iachini, Alessandro Iavarone

¹Department of Experimental Medicine, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy, sergio.chieffi@unina2.it.

Experimental Brain Research

|February 6, 2014

Summary

Performing a reaching task with a flanking distractor significantly amplifies its interference effect on line bisection perception. This suggests increased attention to the distractor enhances its influence.

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Area of Science:

Cognitive psychology
Perception research
Visuospatial processing

Background:

Flanking distractors are known to influence spatial judgments like line bisection.
The precise mechanisms by which distractors exert their influence, particularly when combined with motor actions, require further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate whether performing a reaching movement towards a flanking distractor modifies its interference effect on line bisection.
To compare the magnitude of distractor interference in a standard bisection task versus a bisection-plus-reaching task.

Main Methods:

Participants performed a line bisection task with a flanking dot distractor.
A second group performed the bisection task followed by a reaching movement to the dot (bisection-plus-reaching task).
The dot was positioned laterally to the line, above or below its edge.

Main Results:

In both tasks, the subjective midpoint of the line was shifted away from the dot's position.
The magnitude of this shift (flanker interference) was significantly greater in the bisection-plus-reaching task compared to the standard bisection task.
This indicates an enhanced distractor effect when a motor action is involved.

Conclusions:

Performing a reaching action towards a flanking distractor increases its salience and interference in line bisection.
Motor engagement with a distractor amplifies its perceptual distorting effects.
Attention allocation plays a crucial role in modulating distractor interference in visuospatial tasks.