Abstract
In this study, we investigated whether the attentional focus of a feature search is processed in a spatiotopic or retinotopic reference frame. A search array with a color singleton was presented just before and after a saccade. The pre-saccadic array was presented 50 ms after the saccade cue providing approximately 150 ms viewing time prior to the saccade. The array was again present after the eye movement for an additional 40 to 50 ms. White markers were added to all items in the post-saccadic array and participants reported the position of the marker (top or bottom) on the target item. Following the saccade, the search target (color singleton) was either at the same location as before (spatiotopic condition), or exchanged places with a distractor so that the target occupied the same retinal location as before (retinotopic condition). Distractors remained at their spatiotopic locations (except for the one that traded places with the target). A control condition was identical in every way except that there was no pre-saccadic array presentation allowing us to determine if any information was accumulated during the pre-saccadic preview, and if so whether it was in retinotopic or spatiotopic coordinates. Results showed a reaction time advantage when the search array was presented both before and after the saccade when the search target was at the same spatiotopic location across the saccade, but not when it was at the same retinotopic location. This suggests that the capture of attention by a pop-out target is remapped across eye movements and is available immediately on saccade landing at the same spatial location the target had prior to the saccade.
Meeting abstract presented at VSS 2016