Visual search and spatial attention: ERPs in focussed and divided attention conditions

ERPs and performance were measured in divided and focussed attention visual search tasks. In focussed attention tasks, to-be-attended and to-be-ignored letters were presented simultaneously. We varied display load, mapping conditions and display size. RT, P3b-latency and negativity in the ERP associ...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Biological psychology 1987-08, Vol.25 (1), p.33-60
Main Authors: Wijers, A.A., Okita, T., Mulder, G., Mulder, L.J.M., Lorist, M.M., Poiesz, R., Scheffers, M.K.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Attention - physiology
Cerebral Cortex - physiology
Electroencephalography
Evoked Potentials, Visual
Female
Form Perception - physiology
Humans
Male
Orientation - physiology
Pattern Recognition, Visual - physiology
Psychomotor Performance - physiology
Reaction Time - physiology
Space life sciences
Space Perception - physiology
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Summary:ERPs and performance were measured in divided and focussed attention visual search tasks. In focussed attention tasks, to-be-attended and to-be-ignored letters were presented simultaneously. We varied display load, mapping conditions and display size. RT, P3b-latency and negativity in the ERP associated with controlled search all increased with display load. Each of these measures showed selectivity of controlled search, in that they decreased with focussing of attention. An occipital N230, on the other hand, was not sensitive to focussing of attention, but was primarily affected by display load. ERPs to both attended and unattended targets in focussed attention conditions showed an N2 compared to nontargets, suggesting that both automatic and controlled letter classifications are possible. These effects were not affected by display size. Consistent mapping resulted in shorter RT and P3b-latency in divided attention conditions. compared to varied mapping conditions, but had no effect in focussed attention conditions.
ISSN:0301-0511
1873-6246
DOI:10.1016/0301-0511(87)90066-4