Auditory distraction: A duplex-mechanism account

There is no author summary for this article yet. Authors can add summaries to their articles on ScienceOpen to make them more accessible to a non-specialist audience.

Abstract

A body of laboratory work is reviewed suggesting that auditory distraction comes in two functionally distinct forms. Interference-by-process is produced when the involuntary processing of the sound competes with a similar process applied deliberately to perform a focal task. In contrast, attentional capture is produced when the sound causes a disengagement of attention away from the prevailing task, regardless of the task processes involved. Particular attention is devoted to reviewing a range of converging evidence from both experimental and individual- and group-differences-based research, indicating that auditory attentional capture is controllable via greater top-down task engagement whereas interference-by-process is not.

Related collections

Most cited references 59

Record: found
Abstract: found
Article: not found

Distracted and confused?: selective attention under load.

Nilli Lavie (2005)

The ability to remain focused on goal-relevant stimuli in the presence of potentially interfering distractors is crucial for any coherent cognitive function. However, simply instructing people to ignore goal-irrelevant stimuli is not sufficient for preventing their processing. Recent research reveals that distractor processing depends critically on the level and type of load involved in the processing of goal-relevant information. Whereas high perceptual load can eliminate distractor processing, high load on "frontal" cognitive control processes increases distractor processing. These findings provide a resolution to the long-standing early and late selection debate within a load theory of attention that accommodates behavioural and neuroimaging data within a framework that integrates attention research with executive function.

0 comments Cited 437 times – based on 0 reviews      Review now

Record: found
Abstract: not found
Article: not found

Working Memory Capacity as Executive Attention

Randall Engle (2016)

0 comments Cited 435 times – based on 0 reviews      Review now

Record: found
Abstract: found
Article: not found

Load theory of selective attention and cognitive control.

Nilli Lavie, Aleksandra Hirst, Jan de Fockert … (2004)

A load theory of attention in which distractor rejection depends on the level and type of load involved in current processing was tested. A series of experiments demonstrates that whereas high perceptual load reduces distractor interference, working memory load or dual-task coordination load increases distractor interference. These findings suggest 2 selective attention mechanisms: a perceptual selection mechanism serving to reduce distractor perception in situations of high perceptual load that exhaust perceptual capacity in processing relevant stimuli and a cognitive control mechanism that reduces interference from perceived distractors as long as cognitive control functions are available to maintain current priorities (low cognitive load). This theory resolves the long-standing early versus late selection debate and clarifies the role of cognitive control in selective attention. ((c) 2004 APA, all rights reserved)

0 comments Cited 423 times – based on 0 reviews      Review now

All references

Author and article information

Journal

Title: PsyCh Journal

Abbreviated Title: PsyCh Journal

Publisher: Wiley

ISSN: 20460252

Publication date Created: March 2014

Publication date (Print): March 2014

Publication date (Electronic): March 10 2014

Volume: 3

Issue: 1

Pages: 30-41

Affiliations

[1 ]Department of Psychology; Royal Holloway; University of London; Egham Surrey UK

Article

DOI: 10.1002/pchj.44

PubMed ID: 26271638

SO-VID: 116458f6-953e-4dc4-80ab-7f796ee95902

License:

http://doi.wiley.com/10.1002/tdm_license_1.1

History

Data availability:

Comments

Comment on this article

Cited by 51

See all cited by

Most referenced authors 461

See all reference authors

- Version 1

Auditory distraction: A duplex-mechanism account : Duplex-mechanism account of auditory distraction

Read this article at