Comparative Aspects of Multiple Processes of Attention.
Abstract
In this paper, first, there are examples of human and animal research in which attention is separated into various components. Terms used to designate various aspects or subcomponents of attention are compared from different research paradigms. Secondly, four experiments on the time course of human attentional effects on discrimination of different stimuli are discussed in relationship to other research in the literature. For these experiments, a precue was used to move attention to the target location. Accuracy in discrimination of the target as a function of the time between precue and target was measured. In three of these experiments, targets differed as to line arrangement or line orientation. It was suggested that line arrangement discrimination requires focused attention whereas line orientation discrimination may not. The data were related to some of the dichotomous terms used to describe processes that differ in the need for focused attention. In a fourth experiment, eccentricity of the target was varied. These data provided evidence of time invariant attention movement for distance less than ten degrees. The results from the four experiments are discussed (a) as separation of line orientation discrimination from line arrangement discrimination by need for focused attention and (b) as examples of engagement, movement, and disengagement from stimuli in a discrimination task. Keywords: Visual attention, Visual perception, Psychophysiology, Perception(Psychology), Neurophysiology. (SDW)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 1988
- Accession Number
- ADA195805
Entities
People
- Marylou Cheal
Organizations
- University of Dayton