Spatial attention does not require preattentive grouping

Author(s): Behrmann, M.

Journal/Book: Neuropsychology. 1997; 11: 750 First St NE, Washington, DC 20002-4242. Amer Psychological Assoc. 30-43.

Abstract: Does spatial attention follow a full preattentive analysis of the visual field, or can attention select from ungrouped regions of the visual field? We addressed this question by testing an apperceptive agnosic patient, J. W. In tasks involving bath spatial selection and preattentive grouping. Results suggest that J. W. Had intact spatial attention: He was faster to detect targets appearing at cued locations relative to targets appearing at uncued locations. However, his preattentive processes were severely disrupted. Gestalt grouping and symmetry perception, both thought to involve preattentive processes, were impaired in J. W. Also, he could not use gestalt grouping cues to guide spatial attention. These results suggest that spatial attention is not completely dependent on preattentive grouping processes. We argue that preattentive grouping processes and spatial attention may mutually constrain one another in guiding the attentional selection of visual stimuli but that these 2 processes are isolated from one another.

Note: Article Vecera SP, Univ Utah, Dept Psychol, Salt Lake City,UT 84112 USA

Keyword(s): OBJECT-BASED ATTENTION; VISUAL-ATTENTION; PERCEPTUAL ORGANIZATION; LOCATIONS; AGNOSIA; INFORMATION; RECOGNITION; DYSLEXIA; NETWORK; BINDING

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