Two contributions of motion induction: a preattentive effect and facilitation due to attentional capture

By combining the paradigms of motion induction (presentation of an inducing stimulus, followed after a short delay by the presentation of an elongated bar next to it) and visual search (many-item displays with or without a pop-out target), it was possible to demonstrate the existence of two separate contributions to the motion induction effect. Illusory motion in the test bar could be produced either preattentively or by facilitation due to attentional capture. The former effect is fast, independent of the delay between the inducers and the test bar and operating simultaneously at all locations across the visual display, the latter is slower (full strength in 200-300 msec) and confined to the vicinity of the pop-out inducer. The two possibly also differ in their spatial extent, the attentional capture effect extending over a larger area around the inducer. We conclude that the motion induction effect can be used to show the existence of several effects due to the sudden presentation of a visual stimulus.