Involvement of memory‐comparison‐based change detection in visual distraction

Abstract

The involvement of memory-comparison-based change detection in visual distraction was elucidated. Not only luminance increments that engaged memory-comparison-based change detection and refractoriness-based rareness detection but also luminance decrements that engaged only memory-comparison-based change detection caused behavioral distraction, which was mirrored by a posterior negativity (240-260 ms, posterior N2) and a broad positivity (420-460 ms, P3a) that reflected attentional capture. Preceding these effects, luminance increments elicited a posterior positivity (100-120 ms, change-related positivity) and a posterior negativity (120-140 ms, change-related negativity), whereas luminance decrements elicited only a posterior positivity (160-180 ms, change-related positivity). These results suggest that memory-comparison-based change detection indexed by change-related positivity is involved in visual distraction as a result of attentional capture.