The effects of attention pre-allocation and target-background integration on object-based attention.

Fengpei Hu,Songpo Zhao,Changyong Jiao,Xiao Liu,Yuji Yi,Jun Wang,Huahua Dong,Andrea Antal

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0119414

Abstract

Object-based attention has been documented as an important mechanism with which to control attention in several studies. To date, two main hypotheses have been proposed to interpret object-based attention: attention spreading and prioritization of search. There is evidence that supports these hypotheses in the literature. In the present study, we sought to compare these two hypotheses systematically by manipulating two factors: the integration of the target and background and the presence of attention pre-allocation. For this purpose, we used a flanker task in which the location of the task-relevant target was fixed, but the relationship between the target and the background varied. In addition, attention pre-allocation was presented in only half of the conditions. The results revealed that the attention spreading hypothesis was supported only when attention was not pre-allocated and target-background integration was high; however, the prioritization hypothesis was supported in all other conditions. Our findings provide insight into the comparisons of the attention spreading and prioritization hypotheses. Furthermore, our findings suggest that attention resources may be the underlying factor determining appropriate strategy in the control of attention.

Highlights

Individuals are exposed to enormous amounts of information daily
The results reported in Experiment 1 indicated that when participants were asked to pay attention to a low integration target (“X” or” H” in Experiment 1A), a prioritization effect was exhibited, as there was no interaction between object type and compatibility
Four experiments provided evidence in favor of a prioritization effect when there was low integration between the target and the object background, or attention was pre-allocated to the object background; this conclusion was drawn, as there were no interactions between compatibility and object type (Experiments 1A, 2A, and 2B)

Summary

Introduction

Individuals are exposed to enormous amounts of information daily. Attention allows individuals to select task-relevant information and ignore irrelevant information, during complex visual cognition tasks. Control of attention can be either space- [1] or object-based [2,3]. Space-based attention suggests that attention is allocated to a specific region, while object-based attention suggests that attention is allocated to objects. When compared to spacebased attention, object-based attention is suited to more complex visual scenes

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Conclusion