The standard and reversed attentional boost effects in a joint action task

Area of Science:

• Cognitive Psychology
• Social Neuroscience
• Memory Research

Background:

• The attentional boost effect (ABE) typically enhances memory for self-relevant targets in individual settings.
• Limited research exists on ABE modulation during dyadic interactions with partner-relevant targets.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate whether the ABE is maintained or altered in dyadic interactions.
• To explore the effects of self-relevant versus partner-relevant targets on ABE within social contexts.

Main Methods:

• A mixed experimental design was used with lexical materials.
• Three groups participated: single-person (standard ABE), dyadic baseline (participant + confederate), and dyadic experimental (two participants).
• Participants performed a dual-task paradigm to assess target detection and memory.

Main Results:

• A standard ABE was observed for self-relevant targets across all three groups.
• No significant differences in standard ABE were found between the single-person and dyadic groups.
• A reversed ABE was found for partner-relevant targets in both dyadic groups.

Conclusions:

• The standard ABE for self-targets is robust and extends to dyadic settings.
• Dyadic interactions introduce a reversed ABE for partner-targets, highlighting spontaneous co-representation.
• Findings suggest distinct self-referential and co-representation mechanisms underlie standard and reversed ABEs.