Spatial attention and object-based attention: a comparison within a single task

Vision Res. 2004 Jan;44(1):69-81. doi: 10.1016/j.visres.2003.08.013.

Abstract

There is now much experimental evidence supporting the idea that visual attention can be deployed in at least two ways: one space-based and other object-based. However, it is not clear whether space- and object-based attention work in an integrated way within the visual system. In this article, we present two experiments in which we compare both components of attention within a cueing paradigm. Participants had to discriminate the orientation of a line that appeared within one of four moving circles, differing in colour. A cue appearing close to one of the four circles indicated the location or circle where the target stimulus was likely to appear. Spatial and object cueing effects were observed: responses were faster when target appeared either at the precued location or within the precued object. In addition, the object-cueing effect occurred only when the cue was spatially invalid and not when it was spatially valid. These results suggest that object- and space-based attention interact, with selection by location being primary over object-based selection.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Attention / physiology*
  • Cues
  • Female
  • Fixation, Ocular / physiology
  • Form Perception / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Motion Perception / physiology*
  • Pattern Recognition, Visual / physiology
  • Space Perception / physiology*