Perceptual capacity and selection in attention have for long been an interest in cognitive science, with early theories of early selection to late selection. Hearing is an important subject to investigate when it comes to attention and early auditory processing can be investigated by using auditory steady state responses (ASSRs). Studies on ASSRs to irrelevant sounds have investigated the 40 Hz ASSR and concluded no effect of load. As studies on temporal activation of ASSRs indicate that lower and higher frequencies activate different stages of the auditory pathway, there is a need to investigate other frequencies than the 40 Hz. This study investigated the 20 Hz and 80 Hz amplitude modulations using EEG. The visual stimuli were a rapid stream of letters and varied between no load, low load, and high load. The auditory stimuli were an amplitude-modulated tone with a carrier frequency of 500 Hz, with three varying modulation frequencies: 20 Hz, 40 Hz, and 80 Hz. Load level and amplitude modulation alternated over 18 blocks. The statistical analysis was comprised of t tests and Bayes Factor. Results provided support for the null hypothesis for the 20 Hz frequency but were inconclusive for the 40 Hz and 80 Hz frequency. More data is needed to give a conclusion for effect of load for the 40 Hz and 80 Hz frequency. As we did not have enough data, we cannot say anything about the temporal activation of ASSRs in the brain.

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A common metaphor for visual attention is the spotlight (Posner, 1980). It follows from the spotlight metaphor and other similar models (e.g., zoom-lens model; Eriksen and Yeh, 1985) that attention can, according to task-demands, be constricted into a focused beam (i.e., analogous to selective attention) or dilated to encompass a larger breadth (i.e., analogous to divided attention). It is currently unclear how variations in perceptual load of a display affect the FFOV. Lavie (1995; Lavie et al., 2004) proposed that the critical determinant of selective attention (i.e., a constriction of the FFOV) was the perceptual load imposed by the taskselective attention is a necessary outcome of limited perceptual processing capacity. Age-related differences in perceptual processing capacity (e.g., Maylor and Lavie, 1998) may then explain observed age-related differences in FFOV size (e.g., Ball, Beard, Roenker, Miller, and Griggs, 1988). The current study examined how perceptual load and aging affected the FFOV. Younger and older participants viewed brief displays in which they engaged in two tasks: the first task was a perceptual load manipulation, while the second task was a measure of the FFOV. Multiple measures of peripheral task performance suggest that the size of the FFOV for older adults was significantly reduced by increasing perceptual load and this effect of load was greater with increasing distance from fixation. As predicted from the perceptual load model, when perceptual load of the task increased, perceptual sensitivity for the distant peripheral task decreased for older adults. This decrease was greater when the task was farther from fixationindicative of a shrinking spotlight. However, for younger adults, increasing load did not affect peripheral task performance. This age-related difference may be attributable to older adults reduced perceptual processing capacity. The current results support the notion that older adults reduced perceptual processing capacity may be one cause of their reduced FFOV. Limitations of the current study as well as future research are discussed.

Individuals with high working memory capacity (WMC) appear to be particularly good at focusing their attention (McCabe, Roediger, McDaniel, Balota, & Hambrick, 2010). Therefore, we studied the correlation between WMC and the ability to suppress neurological activity from a task-irrelevant stimulus. The research question tests the foundations of Lavie’s perceptual load theory; that early selection occurs, by testing if higher WMC enhances people’s ability to inhibit processing of task-irrelevant stimuli from low versus high load (i.e. the difference from low to high load should be smaller for high WMC than for low WMC). This was operationalised by measuring the correlation of WMC and auditory processing under low versus high visual load. Auditory processing was measured with auditory steady state responses (ASSR), and WMC was measured with an operation-letter span task. The results showed no significant correlation between WMC and ability to suppress task-irrelevant stimuli. Based on the data, it is not possible to conclude with certainty that effects of load on auditory processing are unaffected by WMC, because confidence intervals were large.

The visual content represented on information displays used in training environments prescribe display attributes as brightness, color, contrast, and motion blur, but considerations regarding cognitive processes corresponding to these visual features require further attention in order to optimize the display for training applications. This dissertation describes an empirical study with which information display features, specifically color and motion blur reduction, were investigated to assess their impact in a training scenario involving visual search and threat detection. Presented in this document is a review of the theory and literature describing display technology, its applications to training, and how eye-tracking systems can be used to objectively measure cognitive activity. The experiment required participants to complete a threat identification task, while altering the displays settings beforehand, to assess the utility of the display capabilities. The data obtained led to the conclusion that motion blur had a stronger impact on perceptual load than the addition of color. The increased perceptual load resulted in approximately 8- 10% longer fixation durations for all display conditions and a similar decrease in the number of saccades, but only when motion blur reduction was used. No differences were found in terms of threat location or threat identification accuracy, so it was concluded that the effects of perceptual load were independent of germane cognitive load.

O processo de integração de informações na memória pode acontecer de forma incidental, em que informações não relevantes para os objetivos de uma tarefa de memorização são conjugadas. Nosso trabalho buscou relacionar os efeitos da conjunção incidental dentro do armazenador visuoespacial e a possível interferência da carga perceptiva e cognitiva. No Capítulo 1 buscamos identificar como ocorre a conjunção incidental entre forma e cor (Exp1) e como a carga perceptiva pode influenciar nesta conjunção (Exp2). Os resultados do Exp1 mostram que cor e forma são conjugadas de forma incidental e assimétrica, em que a cor interfere no reconhecimento da forma, mas a forma não interfere no reconhecimento da cor. O Exp2 demonstra que a alta carga perceptiva não afeta a conjunção incidental, sugerindo que é um processo automático. No Capítulo 2 buscamos identificar a conjunção incidental de cor e localização e como a similaridade e a carga cognitiva podem afetar sua ocorrência. No terceiro experimento (Exp3) procuramos identificar as características da conjunção incidental da informação visual e espacial em uma tarefa de reconhecimento, no quarto experimento (Exp4) avaliamos o efeito da similaridade da informação visual na memorização de cores, e no quinto experimento (Exp5) avaliamos o efeito da carga cognitiva na memorização através de uma tarefa secundária atencional. Os resultados do Exp3 mostram que cor e localização são conjugadas de forma incidental e assimétrica, em que a localização interfere no reconhecimento da cor, mas a cor não interfere no reconhecimento da localização. O Exp4 demonstra que a conjunção incidental da localização e da cor é mais acentuada nas provas com similaridade alta e que a carga cognitiva tem um efeito semelhante ao da similaridade, aumentando o efeito da conjunção incidental (Exp5). Os dados apontam que a conjunção incidental de forma e localização é passível de interferência durante sua codificação. / The memory binding information process can happen incidentally, so that irrelevant information to the objectives of a memory task are associated with the relevant to it. Our study aimed to find the effects of incidental conjunction in the visuospatial store and the possible interference of the perceptual and cognitive load in this process. In Chapter 1, we intended to identify how does work the incidental binding of shape and color (Exp1) and how the perceptual load can influence this conjunction (Exp2). Results of Exp1 show that color and shape are conjugated in an incidental and asymmetric way, wherein color interferes in shape recognition, but shape does not interfere in color recognition. Results of Exp2 show that high perceptual load does not affect the incidental binding, suggesting that it is an automatic process. In Chapter 2 we intended to identify how does work the incidental binding of color and spatial location and how the similarity and the cognitive load may affect this occurrence. In the third experiment (Exp3), we tried to identify the features of incidental binding between visual and spatial information on a reconnaissance task. In the fourth experiment (Exp4), we evaluated the effect of similarity of visual information in the color memorization. In the fifth experiment (Exp5), we evaluated the effect of cognitive load on memorization through a secondary attentional task. Results of Exp1 show that color and location are conjugated in an incidental and asymmetric way, wherein location interferes in color recognition, but color does not interfere in location recognition. The Exp4 show that the incidental binding of location and color is more evident in tasks with high similarity and the cognitive load has a similar effect to the similarity, increasing the occurrence of incidental binding (Exp5). The data indicate that incidental binding of form and location is subject to interference during its codification.

O processo de integração de informações na memória pode acontecer de forma incidental, em que informações não relevantes para os objetivos de uma tarefa de memorização são conjugadas. Nosso trabalho buscou relacionar os efeitos da conjunção incidental dentro do armazenador visuoespacial e a possível interferência da carga perceptiva e cognitiva. No Capítulo 1 buscamos identificar como ocorre a conjunção incidental entre forma e cor (Exp1) e como a carga perceptiva pode influenciar nesta conjunção (Exp2). Os resultados do Exp1 mostram que cor e forma são conjugadas de forma incidental e assimétrica, em que a cor interfere no reconhecimento da forma, mas a forma não interfere no reconhecimento da cor. O Exp2 demonstra que a alta carga perceptiva não afeta a conjunção incidental, sugerindo que é um processo automático. No Capítulo 2 buscamos identificar a conjunção incidental de cor e localização e como a similaridade e a carga cognitiva podem afetar sua ocorrência. No terceiro experimento (Exp3) procuramos identificar as características da conjunção incidental da informação visual e espacial em uma tarefa de reconhecimento, no quarto experimento (Exp4) avaliamos o efeito da similaridade da informação visual na memorização de cores, e no quinto experimento (Exp5) avaliamos o efeito da carga cognitiva na memorização através de uma tarefa secundária atencional. Os resultados do Exp3 mostram que cor e localização são conjugadas de forma incidental e assimétrica, em que a localização interfere no reconhecimento da cor, mas a cor não interfere no reconhecimento da localização. O Exp4 demonstra que a conjunção incidental da localização e da cor é mais acentuada nas provas com similaridade alta e que a carga cognitiva tem um efeito semelhante ao da similaridade, aumentando o efeito da conjunção incidental (Exp5). Os dados apontam que a conjunção incidental de forma e localização é passível de interferência durante sua codificação. / The memory binding information process can happen incidentally, so that irrelevant information to the objectives of a memory task are associated with the relevant to it. Our study aimed to find the effects of incidental conjunction in the visuospatial store and the possible interference of the perceptual and cognitive load in this process. In Chapter 1, we intended to identify how does work the incidental binding of shape and color (Exp1) and how the perceptual load can influence this conjunction (Exp2). Results of Exp1 show that color and shape are conjugated in an incidental and asymmetric way, wherein color interferes in shape recognition, but shape does not interfere in color recognition. Results of Exp2 show that high perceptual load does not affect the incidental binding, suggesting that it is an automatic process. In Chapter 2 we intended to identify how does work the incidental binding of color and spatial location and how the similarity and the cognitive load may affect this occurrence. In the third experiment (Exp3), we tried to identify the features of incidental binding between visual and spatial information on a reconnaissance task. In the fourth experiment (Exp4), we evaluated the effect of similarity of visual information in the color memorization. In the fifth experiment (Exp5), we evaluated the effect of cognitive load on memorization through a secondary attentional task. Results of Exp1 show that color and location are conjugated in an incidental and asymmetric way, wherein location interferes in color recognition, but color does not interfere in location recognition. The Exp4 show that the incidental binding of location and color is more evident in tasks with high similarity and the cognitive load has a similar effect to the similarity, increasing the occurrence of incidental binding (Exp5). The data indicate that incidental binding of form and location is subject to interference during its codification.

The capacity of the visual system to process information about multiple objects at any given moment in time is limited. This is because not all information can be processed equally or in parallel and subsequently reach consciousness. Previous research has utilized behavioural experiments to explore visual attention. More recently research, however, has used electroencephalography (EEG) to measuring the electrical brain activity in the posterior scalp. By time locking visual stimulus events to fluctuations in scalp activity researchers have been able to estimate the time course of attentional changes by measuring changes in these event-related potentials (ERP). One component in particular (N2pc) has been a reliable tool in measuring either the suppression of, or the shift of attentional to, both ignored and attended items in the visual scene. The N2pc is measured by comparing the ERP activity contralateral and ipsilateral to the visual field of interest. More recently, evidence has been presented that the mechanisms of attention thought to be represented by the N2pc (suppression and attentional selection) could be separated into different ERP components (Pd: indexing attentional suppression of an ignored item; and Nt: indexing attentional selection of the target) and measured independently. In six experiments, using ERPs, this thesis employs these components to explore the mechanisms and strategies of the human attentional system. Additionally, this thesis focuses on the impact of different types of simultaneous processing load on the attentional system and how the mechanisms of this system are influenced. Experiment 1 explores the idea that the type or valence of information to be ignored may influence the ability to suppress it. Results of this experiment 4 show that neither the type nor valence of the irrelevant information modulated the amplitude of the distractor positivity (Pd), indicating suppression of the irrelevant distractor was not altered. Noted in experiment 1 was also the presence of an early negativity (Ne) that appeared to represent attentional capture of the ignored lateral stimulus. Experiment 2 demonstrated that the valence of the lateral target did not alter the target negativity (Nt), indicating a different pattern of results between the Nt and the N2pc reported in previous studies (e.g. Eimer & Kiss, 2007; Feldmann-Wüstefeld et al., 2010). Experiment 2 also showed a similarity of the target negativity (Nt) to the early negativity (Ne; the N2pc like component observed in exp 1) toward face and non-face stimuli. This comparison supported the idea that the early negativity (Ne) reflected attentional capture of the ignored lateral distractor and as a result was relabelled the distractor negativity (Nd) in subsequent experiments. Experiment 3 showed that the salience of the lateral image did not modulate the Pd as should be the case if the Pd reflected sensory-level processing. An early contralateral negativity (similar to the Nd observed in exp 1) was altered by the salience of the distractor which added support to the hypothesis that this reflects attentional capture of the lateral ignored image. Experiment 4 attempted to manipulate working memory (WM) to assess the effect of WM load on attentional capture and suppression. While the results did indicate modulation of suppression under WM load, the limitations of the design of experiment 4 made any definitive interpretation of the results unreliable. The results of experiment 5 showed that suppression, as indexed by the Pd, was not altered by cognitive load. However, reductions in attentional capture under high cognitive load, as indexed by the distractor negativity (Nd), were observed and contradict the results of previous experiments (c.f. Lavie & De Fockert, 2005) 5 where cognitive load resulted in an increase in attentional capture. Although, there appears to be some issue in the authors interpretation of the results of these experiments (see chapter 6 for discussion). The results of Experiment 6 show the opposite effect with a significant increase in the laterality of the Pd under high perceptual load. A similar increase in the laterality of the Pd was not reflected in terms of valence though, where suppression of threat related distractors was not altered under high perceptual load. The hypothesis that an increase in perceptual load will result in a decrease in attentional capture was generally supported by the results of experiment 6. Under high perceptual load angry face distractors captured attention, as indexed by the laterality of the Nd, with neutral face distractors showing a reduction in attentional capture. While under low perceptual load, both angry and neutral face distractors resulted in a significant (and similar) laterality of the Nd. The thesis concludes by discussing issues concerning Lavie’s Load Theory of attention and outlines some potential misinterpretations of previous data that have led to the proposal that cognitive load results in a decrease in attentional resources and therefore a decrease in attentional capture of ignored stimuli. It is argued in this thesis that the results of Lavie and de Fockert (2005), which concluded that the increase in cognitive load resulted in a decrease in attentional capture, are more likely to be due to changes in attentional capture (i.e. a reduction) and changes in RT (i.e. an increase), under cognitive load being separate responses to the availability of resources, one that focusses attention on the goal directed task and the other that results in extended processing time to carry out the more difficult task. In this case both ‘changes’ appear to work to prioritise resources in favour of the goal directed task.

Tokie regimieji dirgikliai kaip Necker’io gardelė įdomūs tuo, kad yra dviprasmiai bei sukelia trimatės erdvės pokyčio suvokimą. Remiantis suvokimo apkrovos teorija papildoma užduotis turėtų keisti šį suvokimą. Šio darbo tikslas buvo ištirti dviprasmių ir nedviprasmių gardelių suvokimą skirtingos suvokimo apkrovos užduotyse. I eksperimente dalyvavo 18 studentų (9 vyrai ir 9 moterys). Buvo tiriama didelės ir mažos suvokimo apkrovos įtaka reversijų suvokimui. II eksperimente dalyvavo 9 tiriamieji (7 vyrai ir 2 moterys). Tyrimo eiga buvo tokia pati kaip I eksperimento, bet skyrėsi užduotys: vienoje užduotyje raidžių nebuvo (normalus stebėjimas), kitoje užduotyje raidės buvo, bet į jas nereikėjo kreipti dėmesio. Palyginus abiejų tyrimų rezultatus nustatyta, kad bet kokia suvokimo apkrova panaikina Reversijos neigiamumą subjektyvaus pasikeitimo atveju. Realaus pasikeitimo bloke Reversijos neigiamumas buvo gautas, bet nepriklausė nuo apkrovos. Reversijos teigiamumui neturi įtakos nei suvokimo apkrova, nei suvokimo trukdis, tuo tarpu esant suvokimo trukdžiui Reversijos neigiamumas išnyksta tiek realaus, tiek Necker’io gardelės pasikeitimo atvejais. / Ambiguous visual stimuli such as the Necker lattice are interesting because they can cause apparent changes in our perception. According to the perceptual load theory, complementary tasks would be able to modify the amount of attention paid to this perception. The aim of this study was to investigate the perception of ambiguous and unambiguous lattices under different perceptual load tasks. Eighteen participants (9 men) took part in experiment I. The impact of high and low perceptual loads on perception of reversals was studied. 9 subjects (7 men) participated in experiment II. The experimental procedure was the same as in experiment I, but the tasks were a bit different: task without letters (normal observation) and task with letters distracters. Participants were told not to pay attention to letters in experiment II. A comparison of the results of these two experiments revealed that high and low perceptual loads eliminate Reversal Negativity in Necker change condition. Reversal Negativity was found in Real change condition, but it was load-independent. Neither perceptual load, nor load-resembling distractor have any effects on Reversal Positivity, however, Reversal Negativity was suppressed by load-resembling distractors both in Real change and in Necker change conditions.

Les recherches en psychologie sociale ont mis en évidence que le caractère évaluatif d'une situation de performance influence la réussite des individus. La peur de confirmer une infériorité à un standard d'évaluation génère un inconfort psychologique et amène les individus à s'autoréguler. Cette thèse vise à comprendre à partir de quand, comment et pourquoi la situation d'évaluation détermine le fonctionnement attentionnel des individus. Nous défendons l'idée que les situations évaluatives représentent une menace pour l'image de soi et perturbent l'attention à partir du moment où les individus questionnent leurs capacités intellectuelles. Deux études démontrent qu'une situation de comparaison sociale ascendante entraine une focalisation de l'attention quand la dimension de comparaison porte sur l'intelligence. Nous postulons également que les modifications attentionnelles qui surviennent en situation évaluative se traduisent au niveau de la sélection des informations. Trois études mettent en évidence que le mécanisme de filtrage des informations est plus strict chez les participants en situation évaluative et s'établit indépendamment de phénomènes concurrents de capture attentionnelle. Enfin, nous proposons que les situations évaluatives amènent les individus à basculer dans un mode général de traitement de l'information davantage analytique. Nous faisons l'hypothèse que ce changement cognitif général qui apparaîtrait en situation évaluative est un précurseur à la mise en place de filtres attentionnels plus stricts. Trois études pointent le rôle médiateur de l'adoption d'un style de traitement analytique dans l'apparition de ces effets / Research in social psychology highlighted that the evaluative nature of performance situations influences individuals' achievement. The fear of possibly being inferior to a standard of evaluation generates psychological discomfort and leads to self-regulation. This thesis aims to understand when, how and why evaluative situations influence individuals' attentional functioning. We defend the idea that evaluative situations represent a threat to self-image and disturb attention if individuals' intellectual abilities are questioned. Two studies demonstrate that a situation of upward social comparison leads to attentional focusing when intelligence is the dimension of comparison. We also postulate that evaluative situations lead to differences in attentional filtering. Three studies show that people in evaluative situations filter more information, and that this mechanism operates independently from concurrent phenomena of attentional capture. Finally, we propose that evaluative situations lead individuals to be in a more analytical general information-processing mode. We hypothesize that this general cognitive change is a forerunner of the implementation of stricter attentional filters in evaluative settings. Three studies show that the adoption of an analytical (i.e., local) processing style mediates the effects of evaluative situations on attention. Taken together, the results support the idea that individuals' cognitive functioning is deeply influenced by characteristics of the immediate performance situation