Authors
Jan Theeuwes, Michel F Failing
Publication date
2015/9/1
Journal
Journal of Vision
Volume
15
Issue
12
Pages
308-308
Publisher
The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology
Description
It is well known that attentional selection is influenced by our previous experience of rewards. Stimuli whose selection was previously rewarded continue to capture attention in a subsequent test session when these rewards are no longer available. In this study we provide evidence of both attentional and oculomotor capture by stimuli that merely signal the magnitude reward available on a particular trial. The selection of these stimuli was not necessary but rather detrimental for actual payout. Participants searched for a target (a diamond) among 5 uniquely colored circles. The color of one of these circles signaled the magnitude of reward available for that trial (eg, a red circle would indicate a high reward, a green circle a low reward). Even though this colored circle signaling the reward availability was never part of the task set nor physically salient, it captured both attention and the eyes. Our results suggest that …