Spatial determinants of the distribution of attention

Abstract

A simple reaction time technique was used to investigate the distribution of attention at different eccentricities. Subjects were asked to shift their attention to a cued spatial location and respond to a subsequently presented target light. Although the target was often flashed at the cued location, targets were sometimes presented at other eccentricities. By examining the reaction time to the target as a function of the distance of the target from the cue and the eccentricity of the cue, the distribution of attention at different eccentricities could be determined. Reaction time generally increased with distance, and a smaller effect of the attention manipulation was found with peripheral cues. © 1985 Psychonomic Society, Inc.