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How Does Information Processing Speed Relate to the Attentional Blink?

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  • Troy A W Visser
  • Jeneva L Ohan

Abstract

Background: When observers are asked to identify two targets in rapid sequence, they often suffer profound performance deficits for the second target, even when the spatial location of the targets is known. This attentional blink (AB) is usually attributed to the time required to process a previous target, implying that a link should exist between individual differences in information processing speed and the AB. Methodology/Principal Findings: The present work investigated this question by examining the relationship between a rapid automatized naming task typically used to assess information-processing speed and the magnitude of the AB. The results indicated that faster processing actually resulted in a greater AB, but only when targets were presented amongst high similarity distractors. When target-distractor similarity was minimal, processing speed was unrelated to the AB. Conclusions/Significance: Our findings indicate that information-processing speed is unrelated to target processing efficiency per se, but rather to individual differences in observers' ability to suppress distractors. This is consistent with evidence that individuals who are able to avoid distraction are more efficient at deploying temporal attention, but argues against a direct link between general processing speed and efficient information selection.

Suggested Citation

  • Troy A W Visser & Jeneva L Ohan, 2012. "How Does Information Processing Speed Relate to the Attentional Blink?," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 7(3), pages 1-8, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0033265
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0033265
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. John Duncan & Sander Martens & Robert Ward, 1997. "Restricted attentional capacity within but not between sensory modalities," Nature, Nature, vol. 387(6635), pages 808-810, June.
    2. Sander Martens & Mathijs Dun & Brad Wyble & Mary C Potter, 2010. "A Quick Mind with Letters Can Be a Slow Mind with Natural Scenes: Individual Differences in Attentional Selection," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 5(10), pages 1-6, October.
    3. C. Shawn Green & Daphne Bavelier, 2003. "Action video game modifies visual selective attention," Nature, Nature, vol. 423(6939), pages 534-537, May.
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    1. Charlotte Willems & Johannes Herdzin & Sander Martens, 2015. "Individual Differences in Temporal Selective Attention as Reflected in Pupil Dilation," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(12), pages 1-13, December.
    2. Troy A W Visser, 2014. "Evidence for Deficits in the Temporal Attention Span of Poor Readers," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 9(3), pages 1-7, March.

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