Attentional blink

About: Attentional blink is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 1346 publications have been published within this topic receiving 53064 citations. The topic is also known as: Attentional blinks.

Subitizing but not estimation of numerosity requires attentional resources

Abstract: The numerosity of small numbers of objects, up to about four, can be rapidly appraised without error, a phenomenon known as subitizing. Larger numbers can either be counted, accurately but slowly, or estimated, rapidly but with errors. There has been some debate as to whether subitizing uses the same or different mechanisms than those of higher numerical ranges and whether it requires attentional resources. We measure subjects' accuracy and precision in making rapid judgments of numerosity for target numbers spanning the subitizing and estimation ranges while manipulating the attentional load, both with a spatial dual task and the "attentional blink" dual-task paradigm. The results of both attentional manipulations were similar. In the high-load attentional condition, Weber fractions were similar in the subitizing (2-4) and estimation (5-7) ranges (10-15%). In the low-load and single-task condition, Weber fractions substantially improved in the subitizing range, becoming nearly error-free, while the estimation range was relatively unaffected. The results show that the mechanisms operating over the subitizing and estimation ranges are not identical. We suggest that pre-attentive estimation mechanisms works at all ranges, but in the subitizing range, attentive mechanisms also come into play.

Types and tokens in visual processing: a double dissociation between the attentional blink and repetition blindness.

Abstract: The visual system is generally limited in the number of items it can process at any given time. Performance decrements can be observed for reporting multiple targets presented in a sequence. Using a technique where targets are embedded among distractors in rapid serial visual presentation (RSVP), previous studies have shown that correct identification of a target (T1) interferes with processing of a second target (T2) appearing within half a second. This effect on T2 has been called an attentional blink (AB; Raymond, Shapiro, & Amell, 1992). A similar deficit has been shown for a repeated stimulus appearing in RSVP, an effect called repetition blindness (RB; Kanwisher, 1987). The focus of this article is on examining the relationship between the two deficits. The AB occurs when two different targets are presented

The role of the locus coeruleus in mediating the attentional blink: a neurocomputational theory.

Abstract: The attentional blink refers to the transient impairment in perceiving the 2nd of 2 targets presented in close temporal proximity. In this article, the authors propose a neurobiological mechanism for this effect. The authors extend a recently developed computational model of the potentiating influence of the locus coeruleus–norepinephrine system on information processing and hypothesize that a refractoriness in the function of this system may account for the attentional blink. The model accurately simulates the time course of the attentional blink, including Lag 1 sparing. The theory also offers an account of the close relationship of the attentional blink to the electrophysiological P3 component. The authors report results from two behavioral experiments that support a critical prediction of their theory regarding the time course of Lag 1 sparing. Finally, the relationship between the authors’ neurocomputational theory and existing cognitive theories of the attentional blink is discussed.