Prospective Distractor Information Reduces Reward-Related Attentional Capture.

Mahlberg, J; Pearson, D; Le Pelley, ME; Watson, P

Prospective Distractor Information Reduces Reward-Related Attentional Capture.

Mahlberg, J Pearson, D Le Pelley, ME Watson, P

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Publisher:: Ubiquity Press
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: J Cogn, 2024, 7, (1), pp. 50
Issue Date:: 2024

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Mahlberg, J
dc.contributor.author	Pearson, D
dc.contributor.author	Le Pelley, ME
dc.contributor.author	Watson, P
dc.date.accessioned	2024-08-06T03:44:11Z
dc.date.available	2024-05-30
dc.date.available	2024-08-06T03:44:11Z
dc.date.issued	2024
dc.identifier.citation	J Cogn, 2024, 7, (1), pp. 50
dc.identifier.issn	2514-4820
dc.identifier.issn	2514-4820
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/180156
dc.description.abstract	Motivationally salient stimuli, such as those associated with reward, can automatically gain attentional prioritisation - even when individuals are motivated to ignore such stimuli. This 'attentional bias for reward' has often been interpreted as evidence for involuntary Pavlovian 'sign tracking' behaviour. The prioritisation of reward-signalling distractors may additionally reflect a drive to gain information about the state of the world, irrespective of the particular reward that is being signalled. In the current study we assessed whether forewarning participants on each trial as to the upcoming features of a distractor would reduce reward-related attentional capture. This manipulation reduces the information provided by the distractor, without affecting the magnitude of the signalled reward. Using eye tracking in Experiment 1, we found that reward-related attentional capture was virtually eliminated when participants were informed of the upcoming distractor colour (relative to the baseline condition when no information was provided). In Experiment 2, using a response-time version of the task, we again found a significant reduction in reward-related attentional capture when participants received information about the colour of an upcoming distractor, or information about the value of the upcoming reward. Finally, in Experiment 3 we assessed whether participants were using the pre-trial information to strategically inhibit attention to the upcoming distractor colour. The results of these experiments are discussed within the context of information-seeking accounts of reward-related attentional capture effects.
dc.format	Electronic-eCollection
dc.language	eng
dc.publisher	Ubiquity Press
dc.relation.ispartof	J Cogn
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.5334/joc.375
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/restrictedAccess
dc.subject.classification	5204 Cognitive and computational psychology
dc.title	Prospective Distractor Information Reduces Reward-Related Attentional Capture.
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	7
utslib.location.activity	England
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health/Graduate School of Health
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health/Graduate School of Health/GSH.Clinical Psychology
utslib.copyright.status	recently_added	*
dc.date.updated	2024-08-06T03:44:06Z
pubs.issue	1
pubs.publication-status	Published online
pubs.volume	7
utslib.citation.issue	1

Abstract:

Motivationally salient stimuli, such as those associated with reward, can automatically gain attentional prioritisation - even when individuals are motivated to ignore such stimuli. This 'attentional bias for reward' has often been interpreted as evidence for involuntary Pavlovian 'sign tracking' behaviour. The prioritisation of reward-signalling distractors may additionally reflect a drive to gain information about the state of the world, irrespective of the particular reward that is being signalled. In the current study we assessed whether forewarning participants on each trial as to the upcoming features of a distractor would reduce reward-related attentional capture. This manipulation reduces the information provided by the distractor, without affecting the magnitude of the signalled reward. Using eye tracking in Experiment 1, we found that reward-related attentional capture was virtually eliminated when participants were informed of the upcoming distractor colour (relative to the baseline condition when no information was provided). In Experiment 2, using a response-time version of the task, we again found a significant reduction in reward-related attentional capture when participants received information about the colour of an upcoming distractor, or information about the value of the upcoming reward. Finally, in Experiment 3 we assessed whether participants were using the pre-trial information to strategically inhibit attention to the upcoming distractor colour. The results of these experiments are discussed within the context of information-seeking accounts of reward-related attentional capture effects.

Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:

http://hdl.handle.net/10453/180156