Shifting views on the symbolic cueing effect: cueing attention through recent prior experience

Several studies have demonstrated that centrally presented, non-predictive, directional symbols (arrows, directional words, eye gaze) can influence response times to detect the onset of a target item presented in a peripheral location. Although symbolic cueing effects have been reliably demonstrated...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inPsicológica (Valencia) Vol. 29; no. 1; pp. 97 - 114
Main Authors J.C. Crump, Matthew, Milliken, Bruce, Ansari, Imran
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Sociedad Espanola de Psicologia Experimental (SEPEX) 01.01.2008
University of Valencia
DIGITAL.CSIC
Subjects
Attention
Cues
Experience
Eye Movements
Visual Stimuli
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Summary:Several studies have demonstrated that centrally presented, non-predictive, directional symbols (arrows, directional words, eye gaze) can influence response times to detect the onset of a target item presented in a peripheral location. Although symbolic cueing effects have been reliably demonstrated, the underlying mechanisms that produce these effects are not well understood. In two experiments we test the idea that perceptual integration between cue-target pairs mediates symbolic cueing effects. Our findings suggest symbolic cueing effects may not necessarily reflect the orienting power of highly over-learned directional symbols. Rather, symbolic cueing effects are also mediated by relatively recent experiences with coherent cue-target objects during the experimental session. We elaborate on the implications of our findings for conventional explanations of symbolic cueing effects. (Contains 2 figures, 3 tables, and 1 footnote.)
ISSN:0211-2159
1576-8597
1576-8597