Top-down control of attention under varying task loads

Bibliographic Data

ID21283099
AuthorsSuhyeon Jo (Chungnam National University), Joo Yeon Kim (0000-0001-5899-8238, Korea Basic Science Institute), Suk Won Han (0000-0002-2997-7443, Chungnam National University, corresponding author)
Year2021
Volume216
Pages103310
Publication date2021-05-01
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueActa Psychologica (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0001-6918 • E-ISSN: 1873-6297
PublisherElsevier BV (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1016/j.actpsy.2021.103310
PMID33892264
OpenAlexW3156333099
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited26

The performance of a goal-directed task is often interrupted by task-irrelevant distractors. This distractor interference has well been demonstrated in a large body of studies employing the Eriksen flanker paradigm. A notable finding regarding this issue is that distractor interference is attenuated by increased perceptual load or the presence of non-target stimuli diluting distractors. Besides increased perceptual load or the presence of diluters, we hypothesized that either suppression of distractor or enhancement of target via top-down attentional control would also contribute to modulating distractor interference. To test this, we had participants identify a target stimulus while ignoring a distractor under three different conditions; under low load, only the target and distractor was presented, while under high load, the target was surrounded by non-target letters. In the dilution condition, the target was accompanied by non-targets, whose colors were distinct from the target. Importantly, following the task stimuli, a probe stimulus was presented either in the target location, non-target location, or distractor location. As results, under low load, attention was captured by the target stimulus in a bottom-up manner at the early stage of processing. By contrast, in the high load and dilution conditions, attention was focused on the target in a top-down manner. Taken together, we suggest that increasing perceptual load or presenting diluters incentivizes the establishment of top-down bias toward the target stimulus, which plays a role in attenuating distractor interference

Cognitive psychology · Distraction · Perception · Stimulus (psychology) · EEG and Brain-Computer Interfaces · Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies · Neuroscience · Psychology · Visual perception and processing mechanisms

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