Inhibition of return: A “depth-blind” mechanism?

• DOI: 10.1016/j.actpsy.2012.02.011
• Publication Date: 2012-03-31T02:32:07Z
• Authors: Maria Casagrande; Mariapaola Barbato; Stefania Mereu; Diana Martella; Andrea Marotta; Jan Theeuwes; Simon Lowes Colli...
• Keywords: Adult; Male; Depth Perception; object-based ior; inhibition of return (ior); location-based ior; three-dimensional environment; 150; Inhibition of return (IOR); Object-based IOR; Inhibition of return; Three-dimensional environment; Inhibition, Psychological; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; Orientation; Reaction Time; Visual Perception; Humans; Attention; Female; Location-based IOR; Cues; SDG 6 - Clean Water and Sanitation; Photic Stimulation

When attention is oriented to a peripheral visual event, observers respond faster to stimuli presented at a cued location than at an uncued location. Following initial reaction time facilitation responses are slower to stimuli subsequently displayed at the cued location, an effect known as inhibition of return (IOR). Both facilitatory and inhibitory effects have been extensively investigated in two-dimensional space. Facilitation has also been documented in three-dimensional space, however the presence of IOR in 3D space is unclear, possibly because IOR has not been evaluated in an empty 3D space. Determining if IOR is sensitive to the depth plane of stimuli or if only their bi-dimensional location is inhibited may clarify the nature of the IOR. To address this issue, we used an attentional cueing paradigm in three-dimensional (3D) space. Results were obtained from fourteen participants showed IOR components in 3D space when binocular disparity was used to induce depth. We conclude that attentional orienting in depth operates as efficiently as in the bi-dimensional space.