Previewing modulates attentional capture

Abstract

Capture by an abrupt onset can still succeed even when attention had been prioritized, but only if the onset object is presented infrequently (Neo & Chua, 2006). This set of experiments examined why repeated presentation of an onset weakened its attentioncapturing capacity. The experimental logic involved undercutting the onset's novelty by previewing it. To the extent that a particular stimulus feature plays a role in attentional capture, previewing that feature should undermine its novelty, and thereby diminishes its capacity to capture attention. In separate experiments, different aspects of the onset stimulus were previewed. The results showed that previewing merely the object's form, but not its mode of appearance, failed to inoculate against capture. Likewise, previewing only the luminance change that accompanied the onset failed to prevent capture. Attentional capture was modulated only when both the form, and the mode of appearance, of the critical stimulus were previewed. © 2011 Psychology Press.