Size scaling and spatial factors in visual attention

This study investigates the effect of the visibility of near and far letter distractors on target processing by scaling the size of the distractor letters to compensate for changes in resolution across the visual field. In Experiment 1, scaled and unscaled distractors were presented at varied stimulus onset asynchronies. Results showed that scaling the size of distractor letters in relation to their distance from the target was effective in producing strong compatibility effects. Scaled distractors presented prior to, or simultaneously with, the target were found to interfere with target processing whether they were near or far from the target. Experiment 2 used scaled distractors and varied the presentation location and the amount of time for processing prior to the presentation of the target. Compatibility effects were found to vary by location and by the exposure duration of the distractor. The finding of distance effects at far locations supports a space-based visual-attention mechanism with a wide attention beam (Steinman, Steinman, & Lehmkuhle, 1995).     

Memory of lectures: Effect of delay and distractor type.

Tested recognition memory for critical sentences from a classroom lecture as a function of lecture instructions, length of retention interval, and type of recognition test items, using 85 undergraduates. When tested immediately after the lecture, Ss differentiated the original sentences from reworded and inferential statements that were similar in meaning. At longer delays, however, only the inferences were recognized as not having been presented in the lecture. Labeling a lecture statement as important had little effect on recognition of the original item, although it did enhance recognition of the other item types. Findings confirm other recent reports of verbatim memory for natural speech. (4 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Picture-word differences in a sentence verification task

Effects of picture-word format were investigated with four problem-solving items. In Experiment 1, picture-word input was presented for 8 sec followed by a test sentence that included verbatim and inference statements. Subjects made a true/false reaction time to the test sentence. In Experiment 2, the input remained on the screen while the test sentence was presented with varied stimulus onset asynchronies from 0 to 1,000 msec. Results showed that responses to pictures were faster than responses to words, and the format effect was larger with inference than with verbatim sentences. The picture advantage seemed to be due to the nature of the input and how information is extracted from it. The findings are discussed within the context of text-processing theories (Glenberg & Langston, 1992; Larkin & Simon, 1987).     

Interactive gaming reduces experimental pain with or without a head mounted display

While virtual reality environments have been shown to reduce pain, the precise mechanism that produces the pain attenuating effect has not been established. It has been suggested that it may be the ability to command attentional resources with the use of head mounted displays (HMDs) or the interactivity of the environment. Two experiments compared participants’ pain ratings to high and low levels of electrical stimulation while engaging in interactive gaming with an HMD. In the first, gaming with the HMD was compared to a positive emotion induction condition; and in the second experiment the HMD was compared to a condition in which the game was projected onto a wall. Interactive gaming significantly reduced numerical ratings of painful stimuli when compared to the baseline and affect condition. However, when the two gaming conditions were directly compared, they equally reduced participants’ pain ratings. These data are consistent with past research showing that interactive gaming can attenuate experimentally induced pain and its effects are comparable whether presented in a head mounted display or projected on a wall.