Does the combination of working memory and distractor similarity affect the attentional blink?

Ho-Doug Kwok (2011). Does the combination of working memory and distractor similarity affect the attentional blink? Honours Thesis, School of Psychology, The University of Queensland.

       
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Author Ho-Doug Kwok
Thesis Title Does the combination of working memory and distractor similarity affect the attentional blink?
School, Centre or Institute School of Psychology
Institution The University of Queensland
Publication date 2011-10-12
Thesis type Honours Thesis
Supervisor Dr Troy Visser
Total pages 52
Language eng
Subjects 1701 Psychology
Abstract/Summary When two targets are presented within 700 msec of each other, accuracy in identifying the first target (T1) is close to perfect, however, accuracy for the second target (T2) is impaired. This is known as the attentional blink (AB). Evidence has shown that the AB increases when targets are presented amongst high-similarity distractors (e.g., letter targets amongst digit distractors). Experiments focus on testing two models that explain how distraction occurs during the AB. Both the bottleneck model and the temporary loss of control account suggest that distractors disrupt high-level mechanisms required for target identification. To test these accounts, working memory load was manipulated with another process linked with high-level mechanisms, in order to determine whether it interacted with the distractor similarity effect in the AB. In two experiments, it failed to find the expected interaction. This suggests further research is required to understand how distractions impact selection of targets from amongst distractors in the environment.
Keyword Attentional blink
Working memory
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Created: Tue, 19 Jun 2012, 15:15:48 EST by Mrs Ann Lee on behalf of School of Psychology