Object-based attention influences saccade latency
Year: 2015
Type: article
Abstract: In the influential two-rectangle paradigm, attention is preferentially allocated to cued objects over noncued objects (Egly et al, 1994). Improved performance within the cued object manifests itself as a manual reaction time and accuracy advantage. However, no study to date has systematically investigated how saccadic reaction time is affected by object-based attention. Our goal is to determine whether saccade latencies are affected by space-based attention alone or whether object-based attention also plays a role. We employed a modified version of the classic two-rectangle paradigm coupled with a saccade reaction time task. Two horizontal or vertical rectangles (orientation blocked), were presented with an exogenous spatial cue flashed at one end of one rectangle. A target gray disk then appeared at one end of one object on 80% of trials (20% target absent). Of target present trials, 75% were valid trials in which the target appeared at the cued location, and on invalid trials (25%) the target appeared equally likely at the uncued end of the cued object (invalid-same object), or at an equidistant location on the uncued object (invalid-different object). Participants were instructed to make a single saccade to the target. Results showed that the saccadic latency was fastest on valid trials. Moreover, saccadic latency was significantly faster during invalid-same object trials versus invalid-different object trials. This effect was found for both the vertical and horizontal rectangle configurations. These results indicate that the oculomotor system is not only involved in location-based saccade preparation, but it is also guided by object-based attention. The eye-movement planning system may, therefore, be subject to the same boundary conditions that determine the representational basis of attentional selection in the visual scene. Meeting abstract presented at VSS 2015
Source: Journal of Vision
DOI: 10.1167/15.12.1262
Authors: Gozde Senturk, Adam Greenberg, Taosheng Liu
Institutions: Michigan State University, University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee
Language: English
Subfield: Cognitive Neuroscience
Field: Neuroscience
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,850
OpenAlex ID: W1675993554