Abstract
Purpose: There is compelling evidence that visual attention can be covertly oriented to locations in visual space and, some studies have shown that the efficiency of visual information process is different inside and outside the attended area. In this study we compared the performance of a Choice Reaction Task (CRT) inside pictures with real and illusory contours. Method: The CRT required the identification of one letter (W or O) presented inside a rectangle physically outlined or subjectively induced by four “pac-man”. The CRT and the rectangle were not related and changed randomly from trial to trial. In Experiment 1, we investigated the temporal dynamic for attention focus. The interval between the picture and the target varied in 150, 250, 350, 450, 650, 750 ms. The letter and picture, were always presented at the center of the display. In Experiment 2 we investigated the effect of congruent and incongruent letter flanker displayed inside or outside on the area delimited by real or subjective borders. Results: The results of Experiment 1 suggest that attention focus can be demarcated by real or subjective borders, but the temporal dynamic between them is distinct. The Experiment 2 showed the usual effect of flankers on CRT, with a large cost of incongruent flanker displayed inside the attended area, and beneficial effect of congruent flanker on real and subjective pictures. Outside the demarcated area, the flankers showed a small effect. Conclusion: Although the subjective and real borders act in distinct temporal moments, the data suggest that the attended area could be demarcated by both types of margins.
CAPES