Automatic and controlled attention processes in auditory target detection

Abstract

Examined the effects of consistent and varied mapping in an auditory target detection task. 22 undergraduates listened for 1 or 3 target letters embedded in a stream of dichotic letter pairs. Ss responded faster and made fewer errors under the consistent mapping (CM) condition than under the varied mapping (VM) condition, and the effect of memory set size decreased over practice in the CM condition but not the VM condition. Results are discussed in terms of automatic and controlled processes involved in recognition of target stimuli. A review of research on auditory target detection suggests that the development of automatic processes may account for some apparent discrepancies in the literature. (11 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved). © 1982 American Psychological Association.