Modulating Irrelevant Motion Perception by Varying Attentional Load in an Unrelated Task

• DOI: 10.1126/science.278.5343.1616
• Publication Date: 2002-07-27T09:50:55Z
• Authors: Geraint Rees; Christopher D. Frith; Nilli Lavie
• Keywords: Visual processing

Lavie's theory of attention proposes that the processing load in a relevant task determines extent to which irrelevant distractors are processed. This was tested by asking participants study perform linguistic tasks low or high while ignoring visual motion periphery display. Although and distractor were unrelated, both functional imaging motion-related activity cortical area V5 psychophysical measures aftereffect showed reduced during task. These findings fulfill prediction perception depends on load.