Double Take: Parallel Processing by the Cerebral Hemispheres Reduces the Attentional Blink

Recent data have shown that parallel processing by the cerebral hemispheres can expand the capacity of visual working memory for spatial locations ( J. F. Delvenne, 2005 ) and attentional tracking ( G. A. Alvarez & P. Cavanagh, 2005 ). Evidence that parallel processing by the cerebral hemisphere...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of experimental psychology. Human perception and performance 2007-04, Vol.33 (2), p.298-329
Main Authors: Scalf, Paige E, Banich, Marie T, Kramer, Arthur F, Narechania, Kunjan, Simon, Clarissa D
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Anatomical correlates of behavior
Attention
Attention - physiology
Attentional Blink
Behavioral psychophysiology
Biological and medical sciences
Blinking - physiology
Brain
Brain - physiology
Brain Hemisphere Functions
Cognition & reasoning
Cognitive Processes
Eye Movements
Eyeblink Reflex
Eyes & eyesight
Functional Laterality - physiology
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Human
Humans
Identification
Interhemispheric Interaction
Lateral Dominance
Memory
Nerve Net - physiology
Neuropsychology
Physiological psychology
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychology. Psychophysiology
Reflexes
Short Term Memory
Spatial Ability
Tracking
Visual Field
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Summary:Recent data have shown that parallel processing by the cerebral hemispheres can expand the capacity of visual working memory for spatial locations ( J. F. Delvenne, 2005 ) and attentional tracking ( G. A. Alvarez & P. Cavanagh, 2005 ). Evidence that parallel processing by the cerebral hemispheres can improve item identification has remained elusive. The authors used a novel variant of the attentional blink paradigm to show that the attentional blink is reduced if targets are divided between the hemispheres rather than directed to a single hemisphere. Parallel processing by the cerebral hemispheres can thus expand the capacity of processes involved in item identification. The authors also show that prior engagement of the attentional system may compromise the processing of items directed to the right visual field. This pseudoextinction may explain the failures of previous attempts to demonstrate that parallel processing can improve item identification ( J. F. Delvenne, 2005 ; S. J. Luck, S. A. Hillyard, G. R. Mangun, & M. S. Gazzaniga, 1989 ).
ISSN:0096-1523
1939-1277
DOI:10.1037/0096-1523.33.2.298