Expectations Modulate the Magnitude of Attentional Capture by Auditory Events |
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| Authors: | Anatole N?stl John E. Marsh Patrik S?rqvist |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Department of Building, Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of Gävle, Gävle, Sweden.; 2. School of Psychology, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, United Kingdom.; 3. Linnaeus Centre HEAD, Swedish Institute for Disability Research, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.; University of Salamanca- Institute for Neuroscience of Castille and Leon and Medical School, Spain, |
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| Abstract: | What determines the magnitude of attentional capture by deviant sound events? We combined the cross-modal oddball distraction paradigm with sequence learning to address this question. Participants responded to visual targets, each preceded by tones that formed a repetitive cross-trial standard sequence. In Experiment 1, with the standard tone sequence …-660-440-660-880-… Hz, either the 440 Hz or the 880 Hz standard was occasionally replaced by one of two deviant tones (220 Hz and 1100 Hz), that either differed slightly (by 220 Hz) or markedly (by 660 Hz) from the replaced standard. In Experiment 2, with the standard tone sequence …-220-660-440-660-880-660-1100-… Hz, the 440 Hz and the 880 Hz standard was occasionally replaced by either a 220 Hz or a 1100 Hz pattern deviant. In both experiments, a high-pitch deviant was more captivating when it replaced a low-pitch standard, and a low-pitch deviant was more captivating when it replaced a high-pitch standard. These results indicate that the magnitude of attentional capture by deviant sound events depends on the discrepancy between the deviant event and the expected event, not on perceived local change. |
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