No capture outside the attentional window

A recent study has proposed that attentional window determines when the color singletons capture visual attention (Belopolsky, Zwaan, Theeuwes, & Kramer, 2007). The present study used the additional singleton paradigm of Theeuwes (1992) and showed that capture was abolished when the size of the attentional window was reduced by focusing on RSVP stream in the center of the screen. Narrowing of attentional window also resulted in increase in search slope even in such a simple task as the pop-out detection. These findings suggest that attentional window plays a crucial role in visual selection and in the occurrence of attentional capture.

Research highlights► Narrowing of attentional window abolishes attentional capture by static singletons. ► Narrowing of attentional window increases search slope in pop-out search. ► Crucial role of attentional window in visual selection and in the occurrence of attentional capture.