The Effect Of Active Inhibition On Attentional Capture Of Different Categories Of Salient Stimuli

Attention capture refers to a salient stimulus attracts our attention quickly and unconsciously.There are two opposing views about attention capture.One is stimulus-driven theory,which believes that salient stimuli can capture attention automatically,regardless of individual tasks.The other is goal-driven theory,which holds that only the distractor captures attention when it matches one of target's characteristics.In recent years,researchers have proposed signal suppression theory and tried to resolve the debate.They believe that the top-down inhibitory mechanism can prevent attention capture.If distractor is not affected by the top-down inhibitory mechanism,it will be captured,which accord to stimulus-driven theory.If distractor is affected by top-down inhibitory mechanism and successfully suppressed by individuals,which accord to goal-driven theory.The purpose of this study is to explore that under the influence of active suppression,the differences of two salient distractors(abrupt onsets and color).This research uses visual search paradigm.Experiment 1 is a behavioral experiment.Based on response times to explore that under the influence of active suppression,the differences between abrupt onsets and color distractors.This experiment found that both abrupt onsets and color distractors captured attention,comparing to color distractor,abrupt onsets distractor is more noticeably.Experiment 2 is an EEG experiment,according to the N2pc and P_Dcomponents to explore the differences between abrupt onsets and color distractors under the influence of active suppression.Experiment 3 aims to verify the early component,which induced by abrupt onsets and color distractors in Experiment 2.Combined with the ERP results of Experiments 2 and 3,we can reach three conclusions:(1)Under the influence of active suppression,abrupt onsets distractor is perceived in the early stages(mainly manifested as Ppc).Then,it captures attention(mainly manifested as N2pc).Finally,it is inhibited(mainly manifested as P_D).(2)Under the influence of active suppression,color distractor also is perceived in the early stages(mainly manifested as Ppc).Finally,it is inhibited by individuals(mainly manifested as P_D).(3)Compared with color distractor,abrupt onsets distractor is perceived earlier and larger degree,allocated more attention resources and suppressed earlier and larger degree.Our result supported signal suppression theory.