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Updated: Aug 6, 2026
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Irrelevant Stimuli and Action Control: Analyzing the Influence of Ignored Stimuli via the Distractor-Response Binding Paradigm
Published on: May 14, 2014
Within-trial and across-trial distractor rejection mechanisms
Luca Betteto1, Matteo De Tommaso2, Massimo Turatto3
1CIMeC, Center for Mind/Brain Sciences, University of Trento, Corso Bettini, 31, 38068, Rovereto, Italy. luca.betteto@unitn.it.
Attention, Perception & Psychophysics
|July 20, 2026
Summary
Visual attention is guided by distractor rejection mechanisms. This study reveals distinct mechanisms for within-trial and across-trial distractor repetitions, suggesting expectation-based processing for rapid visual search.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive psychology
- Visual attention research
Background:
- Color singleton distractors interfere with visual search.
- Rejection mechanisms, influenced by distractor probability, modulate this interference.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate color-singleton distractor rejection mechanisms.
- Examine the impact of within-trial and across-trial distractor repetitions on visual attention.
Main Methods:
- Modified additional-singleton paradigm with four rapid consecutive displays.
- Varied distractor presentation: single vs. repeated locations across trials.
- Manipulated distractor probabilities (10%, 35%, 40%).
Main Results:
- Capture was significantly attenuated at repeated locations, even with lower probability.
- No target-processing impairment at repeated locations where capture was eliminated.
- Target-processing impairment occurred at high distractor probability locations (40%) with repeated distractors.
- Suppression became evident at distractor probabilities of 35% or higher.
Conclusions:
- Distinct rejection mechanisms exist for within-trial and across-trials distractor repetitions.
- Across-trials rejection likely involves suppression.
- Within-trial rejection may rely on distractor-expectation or prediction error mechanisms.
