The informational constraints of behavioral distraction by unexpected sounds: the role of event information

Journal of Experimental Psychology. Learning, Memory, and Cognition
Jessica K LjungbergNuria Vega

Abstract

Sounds deviating from an otherwise repeated stream of task-irrelevant auditory stimuli (deviant sounds among standard sounds) are known to capture attention and impact negatively on ongoing behavioral performance (behavioral oddball distraction). Traditional views consider such distraction as the ineluctable consequence of the deviant sounds' low probability of occurrence relative to that of the standard. Contrary to this contention, recent evidence demonstrates that distraction by deviant sounds is not obligatory and occurs only when sounds (standards and deviants), though to be ignored, act as useful warning cues by providing information as to whether and when a target stimulus is to be presented (Parmentier, Elsley, & Ljungberg, 2010). The present study aimed to extend this finding by disentangling the roles of event information (target's probability of occurrence) and temporal information (target's time of occurrence). Comparing performance in a cross-modal oddball task where standard and deviant sounds provided temporal information, event information, both, or none, we found that distraction by deviant sounds emerged when sounds conveyed event information. These results suggest that unexpected changes in a stream of sounds...Continue Reading

Citations

Aug 27, 2013·Experimental Brain Research·János Horváth
Dec 24, 2013·Psychological Research·Fabrice B R Parmentier
Aug 6, 2013·Psychological Research·János Horváth
Jan 23, 2013·Acta Psychologica·Maria J S GuerreiroPascal W M Van Gerven
Jul 4, 2012·Experimental Psychology·Jessica K Ljungberg, Fabrice B R Parmentier
Apr 11, 2018·Experimental Psychology·Erik MarsjaJessica K Ljungberg
Dec 7, 2018·The Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology : QJEP·Martin R VasilevJulie A Kirkby
May 6, 2019·Psychological Research·Fabrice B R ParmentierPilar Ferré
Nov 21, 2018·PloS One·Gregory NeelyJessica K Ljungberg
Sep 20, 2020·Experimental Brain Research·Carly IaculloJan R Wessel

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